International retailer Wal-mart Stores Inc. has announced an investment of around $6.8 billion in the expansion and refurbishment of stores and e-commerce sites, as part of its 2017 corporate targets.
It expects the investment to create up to 34,000 retail and construction jobs.
In addition, the company has outlined plans to extend its retail and retail-management training facilities, in order to accommodate over 225,000 students nationwide, and to invest in the US textile-manufacturing sector - in partnership with the Walmart Foundation and the US Conference of Mayors - by contributing to the US Manufacturing Innovation Fund grants scheme.
“With a presence in thousands of communities and a vast supplier network, we know we play an important role in supporting and creating American jobs. Our 2017 plans to grow our business, and our support for innovation in the textile industry will have a meaningful impact across the country,” said Dan Bartlett, executive vice president for corporate affairs at Walmart.
Walmart is the largest private employer in the US, with around 1.5 million employees. It has reported a revenue for 2016 of $482.1 billion.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Martha Sparrius. Click subscribe to sign-up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
