What to know about Walmart’s 2025 Annual Report

Greetings Vendorville 👋,  

It’s Thursday, which means the weekend is within reach.

Yes, yes it would 😩

But before you check out for the weekend, we wanted to keep you updated on Walmart’s radar. Between Walmart’s recently released annual report and this spring’s Growth Forum, a few clear themes have emerged for suppliers heading into the back half of the year: more automation, cleaner data, and more emphasis on customer value. So, what does that mean for you? Let’s break it down.

For Starters, More Advanced Tools ⚙️

Walmart is continuing to invest in supplier facing tech to boost accuracy, speed, and self-service. For example, Supplier One is getting regular updates—like integrated purchase order flows, better catalog tools, and GenAI-powered item cleanup—all aimed at making your workflow smoother.

To make the most of these updates, suppliers should:

Get familiar with the new PO flow experience in Supplier One to streamline order management
Make sure your catalog data is clean and current so GenAI (otherwise known as Wally) can help identify and fix any lingering issues
Try the AI chatbot for fast troubleshooting before opening a support ticket

Getting Your Shipments Automation Ready 🤖

According to its annual report, Walmart is continuing to invest in supply chain automation across its 164 U.S. distribution centers, where most store merchandise is routed. For eCommerce, the retailer ships orders through 29 eCommerce fulfillment centers and uses stores for local delivery when possible.

While Walmart hasn’t published specific automation requirements for suppliers, efficient distribution generally depends on solid labeling and packaging practices.

One way to stay prepared is by aligning with Walmart’s Secondary Packaging Guide, which outlines standards for how products should be labeled, packed, and shipped to flow smoothly through automated facilities.

Suppliers can support smoother fulfillment by:

Using clear barcodes and consistent label placement
Providing accurate case dimensions
Ensuring packaging is stable and suited for warehouse handling

Assortment, Access, and Accuracy 🎯

At the Growth Forum, Walmart emphasized that its Customer Value Proposition begins with assortment—offering products customers need, want, and love, wherever they shop. This includes making the full supplier catalog accessible across stores, online, and Marketplace, with a focus on trend-forward, unique, and exclusive items.

To support this focus on availability and relevance, suppliers should:

Upload and maintain a complete item catalog across Walmart platforms
Ensure product content is clear, accurate, and optimized for multiple channels. Content quality scores should exceed 92%, with accurate photos and fulfillment-ready descriptions.
Propose new or exclusive formats that align with evolving trends

Retailer News 🗞️

NMFTA

Shippers: Your LTL Shipping Data is Changing. Prepare Now.

“New National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC®) changes take effect July 19, 2025. Learn how this impacts your LTL shipments and costs, and what you need to do to prepare.” 

Supply Chain Dive

Kraft Heinz confirms $3B investment in US manufacturing 

“The ketchup maker is aiming to offset the impact of tariffs and weak consumer spending.”

SupplierWiki

Walmart Deduction Code 29: Carton Damage — Misrouting Changed FOB

“Code 29 deductions are generated when a shipment of damaged goods is sent to the wrong place because of a change in the routing.” 

⭐ Rick’s Tips ⭐

“If you’ve worked with a retailer, you’ve probably run into more acronyms than you can count. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up some of the most common retail terms suppliers are likely to see, and what they mean:

Let's Circle Back

With more and more companies weaving AI into their automation efforts, it’s easy to imagine a future run by artificially intelligent machines. Thankfully, that day is not today.

Here are a few of the 17 Screenshots Buzzfeed released of AI Fails That Range From Hilarious To Mildly Terrifying.

So while AI might help you manage purchase orders or clean up your item data, it’s not quite ready to run the world. Yet.

Until Next Time,  

Vendorville ♥️