Walmart in push for women-owned businesses

Last month Walmart shoppers started to see a new logo featured on retail packaging of products from women-owned businesses, available both in-store and online.

As part of its overall strategy and goal to source more from women-owned businesses, Walmart supported the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and WEConnect International, in collaboration with Rouge24, a women-owned graphics agency, to develop the “Women Owned” logo to help customers easily identify products made by women-owned businesses sold through any retailer. All women-owned businesses that are WBENC and/or WEConnect certified are eligible to display the logo on their product packaging.

The logo launched during Women’s History Month, underscoring Walmart’s ongoing commitment to empowering women around the world and helping women-owned businesses succeed and grow.

“As the world’s largest retailer, we have the opportunity to use our scale, purchasing power and local presence to help others,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and senior vice president of Walmart Sustainability.

“By sourcing more products from women-owned businesses and making it easier for customers to identify those products at the shelf and online, we are helping to empower women and their families. We are excited by the power of business, and retail in particular, to increase women’s economic mobility.”

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to supporting and empowering women around the world.

In September 2011, Walmart launched its Global Women’s Economic Empowerment initiative, using its unique size and scale to improve the lives of underserved women and help women-owned businesses succeed and grow.

As part of the initiative, Walmart committed to source $20bn from women for its US business and to double sourcing from women internationally by 2016.