Report on a fortune 500 Company Wal-mart

Memorandum

To : Dr . Brenda Massetti , BUS 1100 Instructor

From

Date : March 17 , 2008

Subject : Wal-Mart Company and Industry Analysis

Wal-Mart is an American public corporation that operates in the retail and department store industry . It is number one ranked company on the Fortune 500 and is considered an unstoppable and unavoidable force in the retail industry according to Hoover 's online database . Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world with a size larger than Europe 's Carrefour , Tesco , and Metro AG combined

Wal-Mart 's headquarters can be found

at 702 SW 8th St , Bentonville Arkansas 72716 . The current chairman is Robson Walton and the current president and CEO is 58-year old Lee Scott Jr . Mr . Scott was elected to the position of CEO in January 2000 after rising through the ranks of Wal-Mart 's logistics operations . As Executive Vice President of Distribution , Mr . Scott was able to develop Wal-Mart 's distribution operations into one of the most efficient and technologically advanced logistical networks in the world

Wal-Mart operates a discount stores , 2 ,250 supercenters , and 580 warehouse stores known as Sam 's Club . Sixty percent of these stores are to be found in the US Wal-Mart is also in the process of expanding its operations overseas . It is currently the number one retailer in both Canada and Mexico . Apart from North America , Wal-Mart also has operations in eleven other countries from Costa Rica to Japan . The company is currently in talks with Bharti Enterprises , an Indian Conglomerate , to start a joint venture for Wal-Mart operations in India . The two main competitors of Wal-Mart in the US are Costco Wholesale and Target

Wal-Mart 's mission statement is We save people money so they can live better . As a retailer , Wal-Mart 's core task is to be able to provide the lowest cost to its customers . Wal-Mart operations are therefore organized toward this central goal . Some of these operations include the development of information systems for supply chain visibility developing their own brands and products , developing an efficient and sophisticated logistical backbone and developing a wide array of low cost merchandise suppliers from around the globe

Sam Walton , the founder of Wal-Mart established three main beliefs for the company , namely respect for the individual , service for customers and to strive for excellence . Today , the company has a ten point code of ethics promoted globally by its Global Ethics Office . This code of ethics emphasizes fairness and propriety . Fairness as a doctrine as well as by a codified rule against discrimination , manipulation misrepresentation and cooperation with possible investigations Propriety is found in its dedication to following the law , avoidance of conflicts between work and personal affairs , refusing to act unethically even under and duress and the duty to report ethics violations

In 2007 , Wal-Mart had revenues of 348 .6 billion up 10 from 2006 and 20 from 2005 . Gross profit last year was 84 .4 billion up 12 from the year before . Its two US competitors , Costco Wholesale and Target , only...