EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The various retail markets have undergone very important changes globally. More specifically, increased competition, technological developments and the growth of the various institutions have significantly altered the environment in which retail operate. Changes in customer behavior have also imposed changes in decisions related to offered services, as these services need to be of high quality in order to satisfy todays demanding customer. All this has led to the introduction of WALMART (A LARGEST DISCOUNT STORE AND A WAREHOUSE). The purpose of this project was to study the retail stores in around the world. History & Origins of the retailer & its evolutionary phases over the time of its existence, global rankings, market share of the retailer in its category over the last decade atleast, dominant formats of the retailer, no. of outlets, country of origin, dominant format of retailer, brief description of the founder & management etc. Financials of the retailer Annual report, Profitability ratios, Debt ratios etc Competitors of the retailer in its core segment only & comparative tables for various parameters for top 10 retail competitors only Competitive (Sustainable) advantage/differentiation of the retailer over its competition Innovations adopted by the retailer Business model of the retailer, Value chain analysis, any specific or unique strategic framework (model) applicable to the retailer in study Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000 list, and the largest public corporation when ranked by revenue. It is also the biggest private employer in the world with over 2 million employees, and is the largest company in the world. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart is also the largest grocery retailer in the United States. In 2009, it generated 51% of its US$258 billion sales in the U.S. from grocery business. It also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses in North America.

Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names. The company operates under its own name in the United States, including the 50 states and Puerto Rico. It operates in Mexico as Walmex, in the United Kingdom as Asda, in Japan as Seiyu, and in India as Best Price. It has wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, and Canada. Walmart's investments outside North America have had mixed results: its operations in the United Kingdom, South America and China are highly successful, while it was forced to pull out of Germany and South Korea when ventures there were unsuccessful. Walmart Market Walmart Market is a chain of grocery stores that average about 42,000 square feet (3,901.9 m2). They are used to fill the gap between discount store and supercenters, offering a variety of products, which include full lines of groceries, pharmaceuticals, health and beauty aids, photo developing services, and a limited selection of general merchandise. The first Walmart Market opened in 1998, in Bentonville, Arkansas. As of April 2011, there are 184 Walmart Markets in the United States. Walmart Express Walmart Express is a smaller discount store, with a range of services, from simple grocery shopping, to check cashing, and even gasoline service. The concept is focused on small towns that are not able to support a larger store, and in large cities where physical space is at a premium. Wal-Mart plans to build 15 to 20 Walmart Express stores, focusing on Arkansas, North Carolina and Chicago, by the end of its fiscal year in January 2012. "This is about access to breadth of assortment", says Walmart's Anthony Hucker, vice president of strategy and business development. So far, Walmart Express has opened in Gentry, AK, Prairie Grove, AK, and Chicago, IL. Walmart International Walmart's international operations currently comprise 4,263 stores and 660,000 workers in 15 countries outside the United States. There are wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada,and the UK. With 2.1 million employees worldwide, the company is the largest private employer in the US and Mexico, and one of the largest in Canada. In the financial year 2010, Walmart's international division sales were $100 billion, or 24.7% of total sales.

In November 2006, the company announced a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises to open retail stores in India. As foreign corporations are not allowed to directly enter the retail sector in India, Walmart will operate through franchises and handle the wholesale end. The partnership will involve two joint ventures; Bharti will manage the front end involving opening of retail outlets, while Walmart will take care of the back end, such as cold chains and logistics. Finance and governance For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2011, Wal-Mart reported a net income of $15.4 billion on $422 billion of revenue with a 24.7% gross profit margin). The corporation's international operations accounted for $109.2 billion, or 26.1%, of total sales. It is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000 list, and the largest public corporation when ranked by revenue. A study is a careful investigation or enquiry, especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge. It is a systemized effort to gain more knowledge. For every comprehensive retail study a proper methodology is indispensable and it has to be properly conceived. The study included collecting the data. The DATA was collected through the following sources NEWSPAPER, JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE, PRINTED ELECTRONIC MEDIA I.E, INTERNET WEBSITES. The report is limited and cannot be treated as the whole study of walmart. The use of technology in walmart supply chain is one of the best in the world.