WAL-MART STORES INC.HistoryFounded by Sam Walton in 1962 as a city discount store in Bentonville, Wal-mart was incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on October 31, 1969 as an American public corporation operates a chain of discount department stores. Within five years, the company expanded to 24 stores across Arkansas and achieved $12.6 million in sales. Wal-Mart expands further outside America and operates in Mexico as Walmex, in the United Kingdom as ASDA, and in Japan as Seiyu. It has wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Currently listed on the NYSE, Wal-Mart began trading shares as a public company on October 1, 1972. According to the 2007 Fortune Global 500, Wal-Mart is the world's largest public company by revenue, the most largest private employer in the world and the fourth largest commercial or public service employer, behind the Chinese military, Britain's National Health Service and Indian Railways. Wal-Mart reached a sales milestone in 1979 with 276 stores and 21,000 employees, it reached $1 billion in sales. Having only been in existence for 17 years, the company achieves its fastest-ever rise to the billion-dollar mark. Throughout the 1980s, Wal-Mart grew rapidly and by its 25th anniversary in 1987 there were 1,198 stores with sales of $15.9 billion and 200,000 outlets. members. The year 1987 in particular is marked by the completion of the company's satellite network, a $24 million investment that connects all of the company's operating units with the Bentonville office via two-way voice and data transmission and one-way video communication. In 1988, founder Sam Walton stepped down as CEO and was replaced by David Glass, although he remained chairman of the board. The y...... middle of paper...... increases energy efficiency. Key goals included spending $500 million a year to increase fuel efficiency in Wal-Mart's truck fleet by 25 percent in three years and doubling it within ten, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in seven years, reduce energy consumption in shops by 30%. and reduce solid waste from U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs by 25% over three years. CEO Lee Scott said Wal-Mart's goal is to be a "good steward of the environment" and ultimately use only renewable energy sources and produce zero waste. Wal-Mart has also taken some steps in a positive direction, including becoming the largest seller of organic milk and the largest buyer of organic cotton in the world, as well as reducing packaging and energy costs. Sources: 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/2) http://www.corpwatch.org/3) http://www.pbs.org/4) http://www.walmartfacts.com/ default.aspx