Man surprised pointing at the entrance of a Walmart store.
CONSUMER AFFAIRS

It's official: Walmart makes a tough decision in the USA and there's no turning back

Walmart announces an important decision that will change its internal structure to face challenges in the United States

In recent times, the retail market in the United States has been constantly changing, with major chains seeking to adapt to keep their position. Many companies are choosing to make adjustments to their internal structures to face growing competition and new economic challenges. Walmart's strategy is one of the most recent moves that have drawn the sector's attention.

Walmart has announced a significant decision: to eliminate hundreds of corporate positions in the United States. This measure responds to the need to simplify its organization and increase operational efficiency. With 1.6 million employees in the country, the company seeks to stay competitive against rivals like Costco and Aldi, who are gaining ground with more agile proposals and attractive prices.

Storefront with a large blue sign, which is Walmart.
Walmart eliminates corporate positions to gain efficiency | Grok

Job cuts in key positions and their impact on the internal structure

According to a report from Bloomberg News,Walmart has chosen to eliminate the market coordinator position, a role that supported the supervision of several stores and was part of the corporate team. These coordinators worked closely with market managers, who supervise a group of store managers. The elimination of these positions aims to reduce management layers and speed up decision-making.

Additionally, the company has decided to cut coach and coordinator positions within Walmart Academy, the internal training center for employees and executives. This change reflects a major shift in how training processes are managed, seeking a more efficient and less bureaucratic model. However, Walmart has guaranteed that affected employees won't be left out, as they will be reassigned to local trainer roles in their own areas, seeking to preserve internal talent.

A broader strategy to face the current market

This wave of cuts isn't an isolated event. In May of this year, Walmart eliminated around 1,500 positions in areas such as technology operations, e-commerce, and advertising, as part of a reorganization. The company also closed an office in North Carolina and moved staff to centers in California and Arkansas, seeking to centralize functions and optimize resources.

Walmart store facade with people entering and exiting.
More than 1,500 positions were eliminated in previous cuts | Grok

With a global workforce that exceeds 2.1 million employees, any adjustment to its structure has a significant impact. The company faces external pressures, such as price increases resulting from tariffs imposed in recent years, which have forced Walmart to review its internal costs and expenses.

The commitment to a lighter and more efficient structure responds to the need to react quickly to changes in the market and competition. Walmart wants to strengthen its operational presence and improve its profitability, even if this means making difficult decisions and leaving behind certain traditional management methods. Ultimately, this transformation is key for the company to remain a leader in the U.S. retail sector.

➡️ Consumer Affairs

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