Walmart

===1990–2005: Retail rise to multinational status===
[[File:Wal-Mart logo, 1992–2008.svg|thumb|Wal-Mart logo from 1992 to 2008]]
While it was the third-largest retailer in the United States, Wal-Mart was more profitable than rivals [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] and [[Sears]] by the late 1980s. By 1990, it became the largest U.S. retailer by revenue.<ref name="Hayes 90">{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart Net Jumps By 31.8% |last1 = Hayes |first1 = Thomas C. |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/28/business/company-news-wal-mart-net-jumps-by-31.8.html |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |date = February 28, 1990 |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150723112604/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/28/business/company-news-wal-mart-net-jumps-by-31.8.html |archive-date = July 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Vance">{{cite book |last1 = Vance |first1 = Sandra Stringer |last2 = Scott |first2 = Roy V. |year = 1997 |title = Wal-Mart: A History of Sam Walton's Retail Phenomenon |url = https://archive.org/details/walmarthistoryof00vanc |location = New York |publisher = [[Twayne Publishers]] |isbn = 978-0-8057-9832-6 }}
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Prior to the summer of 1990, Wal-Mart had no presence on the West Coast or in the Northeast (except for a single Sam's Club in New Jersey which opened in November 1989), but in July and October that year, it opened its first stores in [[California]] and [[Pennsylvania]], respectively. By the mid-1990s, it was the most powerful retailer in the U.S. and expanded into Mexico in 1991 and Canada in 1994.<ref>Jacques, Peter. (January 1, 1970) [https://www.academia.edu/169368/Wal-Mart_or_World-Mart_A_Teaching_Case_Study Wal-Mart or World-Mart? A Teaching Case Study | Peter Jacques] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101212019/http://www.academia.edu/169368/Wal-Mart_or_World-Mart_A_Teaching_Case_Study |date=January 1, 2016 }}. Academia.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2013.</ref> Wal-Mart stores opened throughout the rest of the U.S., with Vermont being the last state to get a store in 1995.<ref name="PBS04">{{cite news |title = Timeline: An Overview of Wal-Mart |url = https://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business-july-dec04-timeline_08-20/ |publisher = [[PBS]] |date = August 20, 2004 |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141226212519/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business-july-dec04-timeline_08-20/ |archive-date = December 26, 2014}}</ref>

The company also opened stores outside North America, entering South America in 1995 with stores in Argentina and Brazil; and Europe in July 1999, buying [[Asda]] in the United Kingdom for {{US$|10&nbsp;billion}}.<ref name="IHT">{{cite web |author = Buerkle, Tom |url = http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/06/15/walmart.2.t.php |title = $10 Billion Gamble in U.K. Doubles Its International Business: Wal-Mart Takes Big Leap into Europe |work = International Herald Tribune |date = June 15, 1999 |access-date = April 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226063515/http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/06/15/walmart.2.t.php |archive-date = February 26, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1997, Wal-Mart was [[Historical components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average|added]] to the [[Dow Jones Industrial Average]].<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-13-fi-37733-story.html Dow Jones Shakes Up Its Index With Four Replacements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224195908/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-13-fi-37733-story.html |date=December 24, 2020 }}, Associated Press (March 13, 1997).</ref>

In 1998, Wal-Mart introduced the Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas.<ref name="grocerybiz">{{cite web |url = http://www.mystore411.com/store/list_state/5/Arkansas/Wal-Mart-Neighborhood-Market-store-locations |title = Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market Locations in Arkansas |access-date = December 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025424/http://www.mystore411.com/store/list_state/5/Arkansas/Wal-Mart-Neighborhood-Market-store-locations |archive-date = January 17, 2013}}</ref> By 2005, estimates indicate that the company controlled about 20 percent of the retail grocery and consumables business.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://grist.org/series/2011-11-07-walmart-greenwash-retail-giant-still-unsustainable/ |title = WALMART'S GREENWASH: WHY THE RETAIL GIANT IS STILL UNSUSTAINABLE |publisher = Grist.org |date = November 7, 2012 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |author = Mitchell, Stacy |newspaper = Grist |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121118145036/http://grist.org/series/2011-11-07-walmart-greenwash-retail-giant-still-unsustainable/ |url-status=live |archive-date = November 18, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2000, [[Lee Scott (businessman)|H. Lee Scott]] became Wal-Mart's president and CEO as the company's sales increased to $165&nbsp;billion.<ref name="2000sales">{{cite web |url = http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/112761/ARs/2000_annualreport.pdf |title = Walmart Annual Report 2000 |access-date = December 8, 2012 |page = 18 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025419/http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/112761/ARs/2000_annualreport.pdf |archive-date = January 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2002, it was listed for the first time as America's largest corporation on the [[Fortune 500]] list, with revenues of $219.8&nbsp;billion and profits of $6.7&nbsp;billion. It has remained there every year except 2006, 2009, and 2012.<ref name="2007-Fortune-500">{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2007 |work=Fortune |date = April 16, 2007 |access-date = July 15, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070614021659/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/full_list/index.html |archive-date = June 14, 2007}}</ref><ref name="2006-Fortune-500">{{cite magazine |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2006/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2006 |magazine = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date = April 17, 2006 |access-date = July 15, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705171748/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2006/full_list/index.html |archive-date = July 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2008/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2008 |work=Fortune |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140410131336/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2008/full_list/index.html |archive-date = April 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2009/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2009 |work=Fortune |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140410131332/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2009/full_list/index.html |archive-date = April 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2010 |work=Fortune |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140329131542/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/full_list/index.html |archive-date = March 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/full_list/index.html |title = Fortune 500 2011 |work=Fortune |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140329130655/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/full_list/index.html |archive-date = March 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = http://fortune.com/fortune500/2012/ |title = Fortune 500 2012 |date = May 9, 2014 |work = Fortune |access-date = October 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170909134510/http://fortune.com/fortune500/2012/ |archive-date = September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = http://fortune.com/fortune500/2013/ |title = Fortune 500 2013 |date = May 22, 2014 |work = Fortune |access-date = October 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000038/http://fortune.com/fortune500/2013/ |archive-date = August 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = http://fortune.com/fortune500/2014/ |title = Fortune 500 2014 |date = June 2, 2014 |work = Fortune |access-date = October 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703203948/http://fortune.com/fortune500/2014/ |archive-date = July 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = http://fortune.com/fortune500/2015/ |title = Fortune 500 2015 |website = Fortune |access-date = October 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171024150735/http://fortune.com/fortune500/2015/ |archive-date = October 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = http://fortune.com/fortune500/2016/ |title = Fortune 500 |website = Fortune |access-date = October 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171020024947/http://fortune.com/fortune500/2016/ |archive-date = October 20, 2017}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=January 2022}}

In 2005, Wal-Mart reported {{US$|312.4&nbsp;billion}} in sales, more than 6,200 facilities around the world—including 3,800 stores in the United States and 2,800 elsewhere, employing more than 1.6&nbsp;million associates. Its U.S. presence grew so rapidly that only small pockets of the country remained more than {{convert|60|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} from the nearest store.<ref>{{cite conference |first = Matthew |last = Zook |author2 = Graham, Mark |editor-first = Stanley D. |editor-last = Brunn |title = Wal-Mart Nation: Mapping the Reach of a Retail Colossus |book-title = Wal-Mart World: The World's Biggest Corporation in the Global Economy |pages = 15–25 |publisher = Routledge |year = 2006 |isbn = 978-0-415-95137-1 }}</ref>

As Wal-Mart expanded rapidly into the world's largest corporation, many critics worried about its effect on local communities, particularly small towns with many "[[Small business|mom and pop]]" stores. There have been several studies on the economic impact of Wal-Mart on small towns and local businesses, jobs, and taxpayers. Kenneth Stone, a professor of economics, found that some small towns can lose almost half of their retail trade within ten years of a Wal-Mart store opening.<ref name="Rural">Stone, Kenneth E. (1997). "[https://www.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/10yrstudy.pdf Impact of the Wal-Mart Phenomenon on Rural Communities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120110527/http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/10yrstudy.pdf |date=January 20, 2016 }}". (Published in ''Proceedings: Increased Understanding of Public Problems and Policies – 1997''. [[Chicago]], Illinois: Farm Foundation). ''[[Iowa State University]]''. Retrieved August 4, 2006.</ref> However, in another study, he compared the changes to what small-town shops had faced in the past—including the development of the railroads, the advent of the Sears Roebuck catalog, and the arrival of shopping malls—and concluded that shop owners who adapt to changes in the retail market can thrive after Wal-Mart arrives.<ref name="Rural"/> A later study in collaboration with [[Mississippi State University]] showed that there are "both positive and negative impacts on existing stores in the area where the new supercenter locates."<ref name="Stone Artz Myles">{{cite web |url = https://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/MSsupercenterstudy.pdf |title = The economic impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on existing businesses in Mississippi |author = Kenneth E. Stone, Georgeanne Artz and Albert Myles |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160618031634/http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/MSsupercenterstudy.pdf |archive-date = June 18, 2016}}</ref>

In the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]] in September 2005, Wal-Mart used its logistics network to organize a rapid response to the disaster, donating $20&nbsp;million, 1,500 truckloads of merchandise, food for 100,000 meals, and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html |title = Wal-Mart at Forefront of Hurricane Relief |date = September 6, 2005 |newspaper = The Washington Post |access-date = March 10, 2009 |author = Barbaro, Michael |author2 = Gillis, Justin |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604185015/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html |archive-date = June 4, 2009}}</ref> An independent study by Steven Horwitz of [[St. Lawrence University]] found that Wal-Mart, [[The Home Depot]], and [[Lowe's]] made use of their local knowledge about supply chains, infrastructure, decision makers and other resources to provide emergency supplies and reopen stores well before the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) began its response.<ref name="Kouzes 10">{{cite book |last1 = Kouzes |first1 = James |last2 = Posner |first2 = Barry |others = Mark Huffman, ConsumerAffairs.com |date = July 6, 2010 |title = The Challenge Continues, Participant Workbook: Enable Others to Act |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=C2e7_FkKkJgC |publisher = [[John Wiley & Sons]] |page = 24 |isbn = 978-0-470-40284-9 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160623200304/https://books.google.com/books?id=C2e7_FkKkJgC&printsec=frontcover |archive-date = June 23, 2016}}</ref> While the company was overall lauded for its quick response amidst [[Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina|criticism]] of FEMA, several critics were quick to point out that there still remained issues with the company's labor relations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/09/news/fortune500/walmart_image/index.htm |title = Wal-Mart redeems itself, but what's next |date = September 9, 2005 |publisher = CNN |access-date = March 10, 2009 |author = Bhatnagar, Parija |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112103847/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/09/news/fortune500/walmart_image/index.htm |archive-date = November 12, 2009}}</ref>

In 2006, Charles Fishman published ''[[The Wal-Mart Effect]]'', examining the operation of Wal-Mart's [[supply chain]]. His book caught the attention of the press and the public. Fishman's case studies illustrate Wal-Mart's drive to lower costs and achieve greater efficiency and suggest that it may have significant upstream effects. Since Fishman's book was published, Wal-Mart has more than doubled in size. Further research on Wal-Mart's role in the food supply chain has tended to be limited and anecdotal.<ref name="Volpe"/><ref name="Fishman">{{cite book |last = Fishman |first = Charles |year = 2006 |title = The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works—and How It's Transforming the American Economy |url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780143038788 |location = New York |publisher = [[The Penguin Press]] |isbn = 978-1-59420-076-2}}</ref>