History Timeline
1960s First discount store in Rogers, Ark. The Wal-Mart story began in 1962, when Sam Walton opened the company’s first discount store in Rogers, Ark. Five years later, there were 24 Wal-Mart stores in Arkansas ringing up $12.6 million in sales. 1968 saw the hiring of Wal-Mart Aviation’s first full-pilot, who provided help to Sam and Bud Walton, as well as the opening of the first stores outside of Arkansas, in Sikeston, Mo., and Claremore, Okla. The company officially incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on October 31, 1969. 1970s Wal-Mart's first distribution center, Bentonville, Ark. The 1970s marked the beginning of significant growth for the company. The first year of that decade saw the opening of the first Wal-Mart distribution center, as well as the Wal-Mart Home Office, in Bentonville. Ark. At that point, Wal-Mart employed 1,500 Associates working in 38 stores, with sales of $44.2 million. Wal-Mart also began selling shares over the counter as a publicly-held company in 1970. 1971In May 1971, Wal-Mart stock experienced its first 100 percent split, at a market price of $47. At that time, the company operated in five states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. In 1972, after being approved and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Wal-Mart stock split 100 percent for a second time, with a market price of $47.50. The company then expanded into three more states, entering Tennessee in 1973 and Kentucky and Mississippi in 1974. 1975By the middle of the decade, Wal-Mart employed more than 7,500 associates in 125 stores with sales of $340.3 million, and in 1975 entered into the state of Texas. Wal-Mart stock split for the third time in August of that same year, with a market price of $24, and the company made its first acquisition, taking control of 16 Mohr-Value stores in Michigan and Illinois. 1975 was also the year that Sam Walton, inspired by workers he encountered during a visit to Korea, conceived of the famous “Wal-Mart Cheer” and introduced it to his associates. Wal-Mart began operating in Illinois, its 10th state, in 1977. The next year, the company acquired the Hutcheson Shoe Company, and introduced the Wal-Mart pharmacy, auto service center and jewelry divisions. In 1979, Wal-Mart became the first company to reach $1 billion in sales in such a short period of time. The company closed out the decade with 276 stores, 21,000 associates and $1.248 billion in sales, and the addition of its 11th state, Alabama. 1980s First Sam's Club, Midwest City, Okla. 1980Growth continued into 1980, with Wal-Mart stock splitting 100 percent for the fourth time with a market price of $50. That year also saw the opening of the largest distribution center to date in Palestine, Texas. In 1981, Wal-Mart entered Georgia and South Carolina, and made its second acquisition with 92 Kuhn’s Big K stores. The company entered Florida and Nebraska in 1982, following June’s fifth 100 percent stock split at a market price of $49.875. 1983Forbes magazine ranked Wal-Mart No. 1 among general retailers for the eighth year straight in 1983, the year that the first Sam’s Club opened in Midwest City, Okla. The same year, Wal-Mart opened stores in Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico and North Carolina, implemented the characteristic People Greeters in all locations, and opened the first 1-hour photo lab in Tulsa, Okla. Wal-Mart also acquired U.S. Woolco Stores in 1983, and the stock split 100 percent for the sixth time with a market price of $81.625.  Sam Walton does the hula on Wall Street. 19841984 saw Sam Walton doing the hula at high noon on Wall Street, making good on a promise to associates after the company achieved a pre-tax profit of 8 percent for the previous fiscal year. 1984 was also the year that David Glass was named company president, and Wal-Mart entered Virginia. 1985At mid-decade, Wal-Mart employed 104,000 associates in 882 stores with sales of $8.4 billion. Stock split 100 percent in September, with a market price of $49.75. That year, the company entered Wisconsin and Colorado and also acquired Grand Central Shoes. The next year, 1986, Wal-Mart entered Minnesota. 1987Wal-Mart marked its 25th anniversary in 1987, with 1,198 stores, sales of $15.9 billion and 200,000 associates. The stock split 100 percent again in June, with a market price of $66.625. The company also completed the Wal-Mart Satellite Network, the largest private satellite communication system in the United States, linking all operating units of the company and the Home Office with two-way voice, data, and one-way video communication. 1988By 1988, 99 percent of Wal-Mart stores had bar-code scanning capabilities, the first Supercenter opened in Washington, Mo., and the company acquired Supersaver units. David Glass was named chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart closed out the 1980s with the addition of operations in Michigan, West Virginia, and Wyoming, for a total of 29 states. 1990s Wal-Mart Visitors' Center, Bentonville, Ark. 1990Wal-Mart became the nation’s No. 1 retailer in 1990, entering into California, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Utah and acquiring the McLane Company of Temple, Texas. The company also opened the Wal-Mart Visitors' Center on Bentonville’s town square, on the site of Sam Walton’s original Walton’s 5-10 store. Wal-Mart stock split 100 percent for the ninth time in 1990 as well, at a market price of $62.50. 1991Branching out further in 1991, Wal-Mart stepped into the international market with the opening of a retail unit in Mexico City. On the domestic front, the company entered into several states in the Northeast and South Atlantic regions, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York, and acquired Western Merchandisers, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas. Wal-Mart also introduced the “Sam’s American Choice” brand products in 1991.  President George H. W. Bush presents Medal of Freedom to Sam Walton. 1992On April 5, 1992, Sam Walton passed away at the age of 74. Just weeks before, President George H.W. Bush presented him with the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony at Wal-Mart headquarters. Following Sam’s passing, his son S. Robson Walton was named chairman of the board. With the additions of Idaho, Montana and Oregon, Wal-Mart operated in 45 states in the United States in 1992, and expanded into Puerto Rico. 1993Wal-Mart’s international business formed its own division the following year, with Bobby Martin serving as president. 1993 also saw the tenth 100 percent stock split at a market value of $63.625; the first billion-dollar sales week in December; the acquisition of 91 Pace Warehouse Clubs; and Wal-Mart’s entry into Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Washington, bringing the company’s total to 49 states. The 50th would be added two years later. 1994In 1994, a prototype Wal-Mart store, designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, opened in Lawrence, Kan. The company acquired 122 Woolco stores in Canada, and opened three value clubs in Hong Kong. As of that year, Wal-Mart International operated 123 stores in Canada and 86 in Mexico. Also in 1994, the Code Adam missing child program was implemented in all stores, being named for Adam Walsh.  Wal-Mart Todo Dia in Brazil 19951995 saw the passing of Sam Walton’s brother, James Lawrence “Bud” Walton, Wal-Mart’s co-founder. The company entered its 50th state, Vermont, and built three units in Argentina and five in Brazil. As of that year, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operated 1,995 stores, 239 Supercenters, 433 Sam’s Clubs and 276 international stores with sales of $93.6 billion and 675,000 associates. In 1996, Wal-Mart entered China through a joint-venture agreement. 1997By the following year, Wal-Mart became the largest private employer in the United States with 680,000 associates, plus an additional 115,000 international associates. 1997 was also Wal-Mart’s first $100 billion sales year, with sales totaling $105 billion, and the company served 90 million customers per week worldwide. Wal-Mart also replaced Woolworth on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the company introduced OneSource nutrition centers. 1998Wal-Mart entered into two more countries in 1998, with the acquisition of 21 Wertkauf units in Germany and a joint-venture agreement to operate in Korea. The company exceeded $100 million in annual charitable contributions that year, with donations totaling $102 million. Wal-Mart also introduced the Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas. Late 1990sIn the last year of the 1990s, Wal-Mart became the largest private employer in the world, with 1,140,000 total associates. The stock split 100 percent for the 11th time, with a market price of $89.75. The 1999 Cone/Roper Report, an annual national survey on philanthropy and corporate citizenship, ranked Wal-Mart the No. 1 Corporate Citizen in America. The company acquired 71 Interspar units in Germany and acquired the ASDA Group plc in the United Kingdom. 2000s H. Lee Scott Jr., third CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 2000Wal-Mart entered the new millennium with the appointment of H. Lee Scott Jr. as the third CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 2000. That same year, Fortune magazine ranked the company fifth in its "Global Most Admired All-Stars" list and named Wal-Mart the third most admired company in America. The 2000 Cone/Roper Report once again ranked Wal-Mart as the No. 1 Corporate Citizen in America. 2002Hispanic Business magazine ranked Wal-Mart one of the "Top 25 Diversity Recruitment Programs" in 2001 for its aggressive program to hire and promote Latinos. In 2002, Wal-Mart received the 2002 Ron Brown Award, the highest Presidential Award recognizing outstanding achievement in employee relations and community initiatives. 2003-2004Fortune magazine also placed Wal-Mart in the top spot on its “Most Admired Companies” list two years in a row, in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, Wal-Mart was also presented the "Corporate Patriotism Award," which is presented to a company that exhibits exceptional dedication to supporting of U.S. service members and their families. 2005Wal-Mart marked a significant turning point in 2005 with a new commitment to bring environmental sustainability into its business, under the leadership of CEO Lee Scott. The sustainability commitment developed after Wal-Mart lead the corporate drive to assist in U.S. hurricane relief efforts with $18 million in cash donations. That same year, in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., Wal-Mart created experimental stores that save energy, conserve natural resources, and reduce pollution. The company also launched the Acres for America program, which conserves critical wildlife habitats for future generations. As of 2005, Wal-Mart employed more than 1.6 million associates in more 6,200 facilities around the world – including 3,800 U.S. stores and 3,800 international units – with $312.4 billion in sales for the year. The company served more than 138 million weekly customers in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. View the current unit count for each country.  Seiyu Store in Japan 2006By 2006, the number of weekly customers grew to more than 176 million around the world, with 6,779 locations. Wal-Mart had record net sales of $345 billion. The company increased its ownership stake in Seiyu in Japan, to 53.3 percent, and increased its ownership of CARHCO to 51 percent, renaming the company Wal-Mart Central America. Through the Wal-Mart Foundation, charitable partners, and donations from customers and associates, Wal-Mart contributed more than $415 million in cash and in-kind merchandise to 100,000 organizations worldwide. Wal-Mart also launched a new $4 generic prescription drug program to help customers in its U.S. pharmacies save money on health care. 2007In February 2007 Wal-Mart helped launch Better Health Care Together, a unique partnership of organizations dedicated to a set of four common sense principles for achieving a new American health care system by 2012. Later in the year, Wal-Mart expanded its successful $4 generic program, which as of 2007 had saved customers more than $396 million on prescription drug costs.  Wal-Mart International reached significant milestones as well. In August, Wal-Mart and Bharti Enterprises announced an agreement to establish Bharti Wal-Mart Private Limited, a joint venture for wholesale cash-and-carry and back-end supply chain management operations in India.
The 3000th international store, a Supercenter in Sao Paulo, Brazil, opened in November 2007. In December, Wal-Mart successfully completed a tender offer to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Seiyu in Japan, which raised Wal-Mart’s ownership to 95.1 percent. 2008On April 10, 2008, Sam's Club celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 2008, Sam's Club operates more than 590 locations nationwide and more than 100 locations internationally.
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