Walmart is one of the biggest and most well-known companies in the world. It is also one of the most controversial due to its reputation for low wages and anti-union policies. But it is not just a big company – it is also a huge conglomerate with ownership stakes in dozens of other businesses.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most notable companies owned by Walmart.
Contents
The History Of Walmart
This is the story of a company that started small and grew to become one of the world’s biggest retailers. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 when he opened the first store in Arkansas.
The store was a success, and Walton soon opened more stores across the United States. By the early 1980s, the supermarket was the largest retailer in the country. The company then began to expand internationally, opening stores in Mexico, Canada, and other countries. It is now the world’s largest retailer, with over 11,000 stores in 27 countries.
Who Owns Walmart
Walmart is a publicly-traded company, with shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Walton family, heirs to Sam Walton’s fortune, are the largest shareholders in the company. The Waltons own about 50% of its shares, and they are worth an estimated $130 billion.
20 Companies Owned By Walmart
1 Asda
Asda is a British supermarket chain, which was acquired by the superstore in 1999. It was founded in 1965 when a group of farmers from Yorkshire decided to open a supermarket. The company has over 500 stores across the UK, and it is the second-largest retailer in the country. Asda is a subsidiary of Walmart, and it is worth an estimated $18 billion.
2 Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is a membership-only warehouse club. It was established in 1983, and it was acquired by the retail giant in 2009. Sam’s Club has over 600 locations in the United States, and it is the largest membership-only warehouse club in the world. It is now worth an estimated $57 billion and hires around 145,000 employees.
3 Seiyu Group
This Japanese retail is famous for being one of the first companies to bring Walmart to Japan. In 2002, they took a stake in Seiyu and eventually increased its ownership to 50.9%. The company has over 400 stores across Japan, and it is worth an estimated $13 billion. It sells a wide range of products, including groceries, clothing, and electronics.
4 Flipkart
Established in India in 2007, Flipkart is an e-commerce platform that sells a wide range of products, from books to electronics. In 2018, the corporation acquired a 77% stake in Flipkart for $16 billion. This made the company one of the most valuable startups in the world, and it is now worth an estimated $24 billion and has over 100 million registered users.
5 Moosejaw
Despite the unusual name, Moosejaw is an outdoor clothing and gear retailer which was acquired by Walmart in 2017 for $51 million. The company was founded in 1992, and it now has over 250 stores across the United States. It sells a wide range of products, including hiking gear, camping equipment, and skiwear.
6 Bonobos
Worth an estimated $1 billion, Bonobos is a men’s clothing retailer that was acquired by the supermarket in 2017. The company was founded in 2007, and it is now one of the largest online retailers of men’s clothing.
It has over 30 physical stores across the United States, and its products are also available at select Nordstrom locations. Jimmy Butler, an All-Star player for the NBA, was even the national spokesperson for a brief time.
7 Eloquii
Eloquii is a women’s clothing retailer that specializes in plus-size fashion. It was established by The Limited in 2011, but it was later acquired in 2017. The company has over 50 physical stores across the United States and Canada. It also sells its products through its website and through select Nordstrom Rack locations.
Notably, Walmart’s investment in Eloquii was part of its strategy to tap into the $21 billion plus-size clothing market.
8 Hayneedle
Finding Hayneedle is not like finding a needle in a haystack because you can find this retailer online with over 10 million products. It was acquired by Walmart in 2018 for $90 million and specializes in home furnishings and décor. The company was founded in 2002, and it has since become one of the largest online retailers of home goods.
9 ModCloth
Founded in a college dorm room in 2002, ModCloth is an online retailer of vintage-inspired and indie clothing. Recognizing its potential, Walmart acquired the company in 2017 for an undisclosed sum. The company is now worth an estimated $100 million and has over one million registered users.
10 Jet.com
Jet.com, despite the name that makes you think of air travel, is, in fact, an e-commerce platform that sells a wide range of products such as groceries, electronics, and home goods. The retail giant bought the company in 2016 for $3 billion, and it is now worth an estimated $12 billion. Jet.com was founded in 2014, and it has over ten million registered users.
11 Shoebuy
Founded in 1999, Shoebuy is an online retailer of shoes, clothing, and accessories. Walmart purchased it in 2006 for a humble $70 million. The company has over 1 million products from over 1,200 brands. It also ships to over 200 countries and offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
12 Art.com
Have you heard of Art.com? It is the world’s largest online retailer of wall art. Walmart recognized its potential and purchased the company in 2006 for over $300 million. The company was founded in 1998, and it offers over two million products from over 200,000 artists, including famous names such as Banksy, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol.
13 Vudu
If you are into movies, then you have probably heard of Vudu. It is a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies and TV shows. Vudu was purchased in 2010 for $100 million. It was started in 2004 and was one of the first companies to offer digital movie rentals and purchases. Nowadays, it competes with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
14 Bare Necessities
If you need sleepwear or lingerie, then you should check out Bare Necessities. It is an online retailer that was founded in 1998 by Sara Blakely, the billionaire founder of Spanx.
Walmart purchased a majority stake in the company in 2007 for $60 million. Nowadays, it is one of the largest online retailers of lingerie and intimate apparel, worth an estimated $200 million.
15 Aspectiva
Walmart purchased this little gem in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. Aspectiva is an artificial intelligence platform that uses machine learning to provide product recommendations. It was founded in 2015, and the retail giant now uses it to provide recommendations to over 200 million shoppers every month.
16 Bompreco
You probably have not heard of this grocery store before, but that is because it is only found in Brazil. The superstore purchased a majority stake in the company in 2009 for around $500 million. Bompreco has over 100 stores and is the second-largest grocery store chain in Brazil.
17 Massmart
This is another grocery store chain, but this time it is based in South Africa. Walmart purchased the majority stake in the company in 2011 to enter the South African market. Massmart has over 350 stores and is the third-largest grocery store chain in South Africa.
18 Yihaodian
Pronounced “ee-how-dee-en,” this Chinese company is an e-commerce platform that sells everything from food to electronics. Walmart invested $1 billion in Yihaodian in 2012 for a 51% stake. The company was founded in 2008, and it now has over 100 million registered users.
19 Parcel
Founded in 2013, Parcel is a same-day delivery service that operates in New York City. The supermarket purchased the company in 2017 for an undisclosed sum. The company is now worth an estimated $100 million and has over one million registered users.
20 Amigo Supermarkets
Amigo Supermarkets is a grocery store chain that operates in Puerto Rico. Walmart purchased this chain to gain a foothold in the Puerto Rican market. The company has over 50 stores and was founded in 1968. This not so little purchase did cost the company a pretty penny, and there was some controversy surrounding the deal.
Why Did Walmart Acquire So Many Businesses?
The Bentonville behemoth has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, snapping up everything from e-commerce platforms to grocery stores. But why has Walmart been so busy buying up companies?
There are a few reasons. Firstly, the retail giant is looking to diversify its business beyond brick-and-mortar retail. Secondly, the company is looking to expand its reach into new markets. And finally, Walmart is looking to acquire cutting-edge technology that will give it an edge over its competitors.
Staying relevant in the 21st century…
In short, Walmart’s acquisitions are part of a broader strategy to make the company more competitive in the 21st century. And so far, it appears to be working. They are now the largest company in the world, with a market capitalization of over $500 billion.
Want To Know More About Walmart?
If you’d like to know more about the man behind the empire, check out Wal-Mart: A History of Sam Walton’s Retail Phenomenon, and Walmart: Behind Closed Doors, or perhaps The Wal-Mart Effect – How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works & How It’s Transforming the American Economy and The People’s Republic of Walmart: How the World’s Biggest Corporations are Laying the Foundation for Socialism.
Next, we also found some peculiarly named books about Walmart, such as Hola Papi – How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot & Other Life Lessons, or my favorite, How to Not Have Your Car Explode in a Walmart Parking Lot: A Car Care Pocket-Guide, all available online in 2023.
Finally, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re up for it, check out The Walmart Book of the Dead, which made for a very interesting read!
Companies Owned by Walmart -Final Thoughts?
Walmart is one of the most acquisitive companies in the world. In the last few years, the company has snapped up everything from e-commerce platforms to grocery stores.
And there is no sign that they are slowing down any time soon, I have listed 20, but there are many more companies that are owned by Walmart. So, if you are thinking of starting a company, it might be worth considering selling it to them down the line.
Who knows, you could end up making a fortune!
