From Bloomberg


Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT), already struggling to woo shoppers
constrained by higher taxes, is “getting worse” at keeping shelves
stocked, the retailer’s U.S. chief told executives, according to minutes
of an officers’ meeting obtained by Bloomberg News.
Enlarge image Wal-Mart Struggles to Restock Store Shelves as U.S. Sales
Slump


“We have to get better and remain laser-focused every day because
momentum can turn against you in a second,” Bill Simon, executive vice
president and chief executive officer for the U.S. for Wal-Mart Stores
Inc., said according to the Feb. 1 meeting minutes.

A customer pushes a shopping cart toward his vehicle outside a Wal-Mart
store in East Peoria, Illinois. Wal-Mart’s inability to keep its shelves
stocked coincides with slowing sales growth. Photographer: Daniel
Acker/Bloomberg

“We run out quickly and the new stuff doesn’t come in,” U.S. Chief
Executive Officer Bill Simon said, according to the minutes of the Feb.
1 meeting. Simon said “self-inflicted wounds” were Wal-Mart’s “biggest
risk” and that an executive vice president had been appointed to fix the
restocking problem, according to the minutes.

Once a paragon of logistics, the world’s largest retailer has been
trying to improve its restocking efforts since at least 2011, hiring
consultants to walk the aisles and track whether hundreds of items are
available. It even reassigned store greeters to replenish merchandise.
The restocking challenge emerged as Wal-Mart was returning more
merchandise to shelves after a previous effort to de-clutter its stores.

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