In this podcast, the hosts discuss the excitement of being able to hold their Walmart U.S. Year Beginning Meeting in person after a couple of years. They talk about resetting expectations for FY23, Charles Redfield's promotion to Chief Merchandising Officer, and the importance of always innovating to provide the best items for customers. They also share their journey of adapting and pivoting during the pandemic, managing the present while considering the future, and staying ahead of customer needs. Connecting with store managers and associates and having fun in the stores through merchandise are also highlighted.

Tom Ward, EVP and Chief eCommerce Officer, talks about achieving the biggest quarter ever. They discuss the growth of the eCommerce business, converting stores into hybrid locations, and the importance of in-person shopping and online fulfillment. Other topics include customer behavior, last mile delivery, and adapting to meet evolving customer needs in the retail industry.

Guest Marc Brock, recently promoted to Store Manager of Walmart in Las Vegas, shares his journey starting as an unloader and the significance of positive leadership and making a difference. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with positive people and shares the influence of his mother. They explore opportunities within the company and the importance of being a positive leader. Ends with congratulations and gratitude.

Veterans Day is a really important day for our country, and it’s a special day at Walmart. Our founder, Sam Walton, was an Army veteran - and so many of our associates have served. Since 2013, we’ve hired more than 400,000 veterans and military spouses to join our team, like Rhonda Jeter and Glenn Garay. Rhonda served in the Air Force for 10 years, is a loyal Walmart associate and was recently promoted to Store Manager at Store 399 in Longview, TX! Glenn is a first-generation American from Colombia, served 24 years in the Air Force and joined Walmart just two months ago as the first fellow hired in Global Tech through the Hiring our Heroes fellowship. They both have incredible stories and joined The Huddle with John Furner to talk about what serving our country has meant to them and the opportunities at Walmart for veterans.

Dr. John Wigneswaran, Chief Medical Officer at Walmart, discusses the impact of pharmacy associates on care and the importance of accessible, affordable, human-centered care. They explore the challenges of the healthcare system, the role of community and trust, and the transformative potential of omni-channel care. Dr. Wigneswaran shares their journey in nephrology and their excitement about joining Walmart to provide holistic and local care.

We’ve officially rolled out our new Walmart app and website to 100% of customers! This means everyone is now able to see and purchase all of our items and services in one place - no more toggling between two separate apps. It’s a significant milestone of “Project Glass.” We named it after our late former CEO David Glass, who brought grocery and general merchandise together into the Supercenter. Building a single omnichannel platform has been a large undertaking and required the close partnership of several teams including Technology, Design, Business and Product. Meng Chee is our Chief Product Officer, and he joined John Furner on The Huddle to talk about how we’re continuing to reduce friction for both our customers and associates.

This weekend will mark 20 years since the attacks of September 11th. John Furner was a Store Manager in Jacksonville, NC, and distinctly remembers sharing the news with his team - several of which had family members and loved ones serving in the military. In that same moment, Dan Bartlett was with President George W. Bush. Dan is our EVP of Corporate Affairs and came to Walmart after a career in government as Communications Director and Counselor to the President. Dan joined The Huddle to talk about the events of that day - from first hearing the news to conversations had on Air Force One to standing in the Oval Office as President Bush addressed the nation. Our country was forever changed September 11, 2001, but we have stayed resilient and learned to rely on each other and support one another. Please take a moment to remember the 2,977 men, women and children killed that day and to honor the brave first responders who ran toward danger to save others. Two decades ago, we made a promise never to forget. Let us recommit ourselves to fulfilling it together.

We shared our Q2 business results earlier this week, and what a quarter! Walmart U.S. saw 5.2% comp sales growth, and our CFO Chris Nicholas joined The Huddle with John Furner to talk about the momentum we’re seeing. Chris’ first retail job was in England at 14 years old pricing products, zoning shelves and working in the backroom. He’s since worked retail in nine different countries and knows no matter where you are, being curious helps you best serve customers. It’s up to us to stay curious - always innovating and looking for ways to improve our business. Thank you for a strong quarter, and let’s keep it up!

When John Furner first talked with Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., a few months ago, he shared a quote that really made an impact on him. “Never let nostalgia become the enemy of vision.” Change is constant - and it’s something we’ve all felt in many ways over the last year and a half. In order to continue innovating and moving forward, we have to be ready and willing to unite, grow and transform. Mayor Scott is the first Black mayor elected by popular vote in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he often talks about the importance of transformation to achieve our best selves. Our associates across the U.S. prove this time and time again while protecting one another and serving our customers. Listen to this new episode of The Huddle to hear why John is proud of the work we’ve done and grateful to learn from inspirational leaders like Mayor Scott.

Jenny Dalquist’s grandfather came back to the United States from WWII with a background in metal working and chemistry, and her grandmother couldn’t find a lot of the products she used to cook her favorite Scandinavian dishes. Together they opened a family business in the Minneapolis area back in 1946 called Nordic Ware. After responding to Mr. Sam’s call for American manufacturers, Nordic Ware’s signature Bundt pan landed on our store shelves in 1986. Decades later they are now one of our longtime suppliers selling dozens of items, and John Furner recently toured their factory in person. We made a commitment earlier this year to spend an additional $350 billion on items made, grown or assembled in the U.S., and as we kick off our 8th annual Open Call this week, companies like Nordic Ware are what it’s all about. We welcome entrepreneurs from all over the country to virtually present their products to our merchandise buyers for a chance to get started with Walmart, just like Jenny’s family. Listen to this new episode of The Huddle with John Furner to hear their story.