NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores is seeing some "traction" from the reinstatement of its assortment and a renewed focus on EDLP, Mike Duke, Wal-Mart's president and chief executive officer, said at the Barclays Capital Retail & Restaurant Conference here Tuesday.
Although he declined to disclose specific trends or forecasts, he said driving same-store sales growth is "the greatest priority that I have and that [Walmart U.S. President] Bill Simon has and the senior leadership team of Walmart U.S."
"And I will also tell you that I do see traction. I see the positive acceptance of the everyday-low-price focus and the additional assortment that Walmart U.S. is putting in the stores. So I like the track that the business is on."
He said the restored food assortment — a reversal of a previous plan to scale back on many items — is nearly complete, with general merchandise assortment to follow in the coming months.
