WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Carrying its everyday-low-pricing policy and its attention to customer service over into its supercenter units has enabled Wal-Mart to maintain annual financial success, said Don Canon Sr., senior vice president of merchandising at the Wal-Mart Food Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark.
Canon addressed fellow retailers and manufacturers during his presentation, "Lessons Learned Along the Way to Becoming Number 1," at the recent GMA executive conference, held at The Greenbrier here.
"They [supercenters] work because they extend the promotions of value and price to food. It's directly transferable to food, and it makes one-stop shopping a reality," Canon said.
He also said that while having the right thing in each store is more about serving the community than stockkeeping unit count, Wal-Mart's supercenters have expanded their frozen-food doors over the years without experiencing any decline in sales.
"The more we add the more we drive sales," he said.
Although Wal-Mart is a brands-driven merchant, the store is very committed to private label. "We won't ever be a 30% private-label merchant, but private label is getting bigger all the time," Canon said.
Wal-Mart has 3,875 units, 1,035,000 associates, and generated $167 billion in sales last year. According to Canon, the retailer is projecting revenues of about $190 billion in 2000.
