Latest news with #WalmartMarketplace
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Walmart Vriddhi makes new pledge to MSMEs
Walmart's supplier development initiative, Walmart Vriddhi, has announced a new partnership with the Ideas to Impact Foundation (i2i) to support 100,000 additional micro, small and medium enterprises in India over the next three years. The expanded initiative will leverage Walmart's global supply chain experience and Flipkart's digital commerce ecosystem to help MSMEs scale their businesses nationally and internationally, the business announced in a press release. So far, Walmart Vriddhi has trained more than 70,000 MSMEs, enabling many to achieve around 55% year-on-year growth through personalised mentorship, strategic partnerships and digital tools. 'We are constantly inspired by India's vibrant innovation ecosystem and the growth potential of its MSMEs,' said Jason Fremstad, senior vice president of supplier development at Walmart in a press release. 'As we enter the next phase of Walmart Vriddhi, we're empowering MSMEs with new tools for digital growth, sustainability and export readiness.' The programme also facilitates access to the Walmart Marketplace and Flipkart Marketplace, helping small businesses participate in global and domestic e-commerce. New memorandums of understanding with state governments, including Haryana, are expected to expand outreach. Flipkart Group's Rajneesh Kumar said the partnership reflects an ongoing commitment to making digital commerce more accessible to India's small business community. The programme, launched in 2019, aims to equip entrepreneurs with critical business skills and market access through a free training model.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart DEI boycott starts today; here's why, what NJ shoppers should know
A week-long boycott targeting Walmart begins today across the U.S., the latest in a string of economic blackouts taking aim at large-scale retailers that have recently rolled back their DEI policies. The spending freeze on the world's largest retailer comes amid an ongoing "40-day fast" of Target, spearheaded by a group of Black faith leaders, and kicks off a series of actions planned through the summer. The People's Union USA has been rallying consumers to avoid retail giants that have since President Donald Trump's DEI cuts, scaled back on their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The group, led by John Schwarz, was behind the 24-hour economic blackout on Feb. 28 that later expanded to Amazon and Nestlé, which took place in March. Here's what New Jersey shoppers should know. The upcoming Walmart boycott starts today, Monday, April 7, and extends through Monday, April 14. The People's Union USA has asked customers to avoid spending at any Walmart stores or supercenters, online, on apps, through subscription services as well as at its affiliates. From groceries to food and fuel, the People's Union USA has asked customers to pause all Walmart-related shopping: Walmart retail stores: All Walmart stores, including Walmart Supercenters and Walmart Neighborhood Markets Online: Walmart Grocery App, Walmart Marketplace, and the Walmart+ subscription service Financial services: Walmart MoneyCard, any in-store check cashing, bill pay and money transfers Pharmacy and health services: Walmart pharmacy, vision and health centers Grocery delivery: Walmart InHome delivery, curbside pickup and any grocery order fulfilled by Walmart All Walmart gas stations All Sam's Club warehouses and gas stations Schwarz, who founded the People's Union, a grassroots movement dedicated to "economic resistance, government accountability, and corporate reform, has been critical of larger corporations such as Target, Walmart, Nestlé and Amazon. In an online post, Schwarz called Walmart "one of the biggest beasts in the game," stating it has "swallowed up local economies, crushed small businesses, underpaid their employees, and helped fund the same political machine that keeps us all stuck." In an Instagram post on Friday, Schwarz, who goes by the handle TheOneCalledJai, said the boycott "isn't about hate" but rather about the need for Americans to use their power and strategy to stop "feeding these giants." "We've been watching prices rise while wages stay the same," he told his viewers. "We've watched these companies rake in billions while families can barely afford groceries." There are 70 Walmart stores, 35 of which are supercenters, in New Jersey, according to the company's corporate website. There are eight Sam's Club stores, three distribution centers and two fulfillment centers, a facility that handles processing and shipping of products to customers, according to the retailer. Schwarz has also outlined several dates for blackouts or boycotts this spring and summer: Walmart boycott: April 7-14 Second economic blackout: April 18 General Mills boycott: April 21-28 Second Amazon boycott: May 6-12 Second Walmart boycott: May 20-26 Target boycott: June 3-9 McDonald's boycott: June 24-30 Independence Day boycott: July 4 Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle federal Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, stepped away from its DEI policies in late 2024, stating it would no longer participate in the annual benchmark index from LGBTQ+ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign. The company also said it would no longer consider race or gender when awarding supplier contracts. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a concept that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups that are "underrepresented or subject of discrimination because of their background, identity and disability," according to Many businesses and agencies rushed DEI programs into place in the wake of the 2020 protests against the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police during an arrest, but diversity practices have been around for decades, dating back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Several businesses have either modified or removed their DEI programs, including Target, Meta, Costco, McDonald's, Amazon and Lowe's. Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on Walmart boycott: What to know about week-long spending freeze in NJ
