Walmart Showcases Ohio-Based Suppliers
Local Walmart representatives today hosted a forum at the Georgesville Walmart featuring Ohio-based suppliers and local and state economic development stakeholders to discuss the retailer’s effort to preserve and create new domestic jobs by supporting U.S. manufacturing.
The Columbus event begins a multi-week program to raise awareness of Walmart’s Investing in American Jobs initiative and the retailer’s commitment to purchase $250 billion worth of products to support America jobs by 2023. As part of the Investing in American Jobs initiative’s goal to help spur local job growth nationwide, Walmart is working with local manufacturers on ways to expand their capacity to create more jobs for local residents and revitalize the local manufacturing sector.
“Our customers have told us that second to price, where products are made influences their purchase decisions,” said Jeff Stone, Walmart Market Manager for central Ohio. “We are focused on buying great quality products that create jobs in communities across the U.S. It makes sense for our customers, our communities and our company.”
Today’s forum featured representatives from three small to medium-sized Ohio suppliers who shared their experiences working with Walmart and their perspectives on how the retailer’s investment in U.S. manufacturing and local job growth can benefit other companies. 50 Strong, a water bottle manufacturer based in Lima, Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Company from Plain City and RedHead Wine from Youngstown all participated in today’s event.
“Made in America is a core tenant of the 50 Strong brand,” said Ashley Thompson, CEO of 50 Strong. We are proud to partner with Walmart to offer consumers innovative products at great prices that were proudly made in right here in Ohio.”
From these total efforts, Walmart’s U.S. manufacturing initiative is estimated to create one million U.S. jobs. Its ongoing investment in companies like those present at today’s forum represents a greater push by the retailer to evaluate the state of America’s manufacturing sector and execute tangible, long-lasting initiatives to encourage continuous growth.
Also present at todays event were representatives from Ohio business and economic development stakeholder groups who shared their perspectives on the benefits of supporting local manufacturing. Those groups represented today included the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Jobs Ohio and Columbus 2020.
“In the spirit of ‘Buy American’, it is just as important that retailers and wholesalers turn to U.S. and Ohio manufacturers for their goods,” said Gordon Gough, President and CEO of The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants. “A healthy U.S. retail sector is reliant not just on consumer spending, but in supporting the entire domestic vertical from manufacturing right down to the consumer’s front door.”
“Manufacturing is one of the key industries in the Columbus Region, and we recognize the importance of this initiative to grow the U.S. manufacturing base and create jobs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Walmart in the future,” said Matt McCollister, Senior Vice President, Economic Development, Columbus 2020.
About Walmart in Ohio
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. In Ohio we serve customers at 173 retail units and online through Walmart Grocery Pickup, Walmart.com and Jet.com. We are proud to employ 51,161 associates in Ohio. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $6.3 billion with Ohio suppliers in FY18, which supported 133,682 supplier jobs. Learn more at the Walmart Today blog, and our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram channels.