PRESS RELEASE: Georgia enterpreneurs invited to pitch their products for a spot on Walmart or Sam's Club Shelves

Walmart’s Open Call provides business owners the opportunity to become Walmart suppliers and reach millions of new customers with their U.S.-made products

ATLANTA (July 8, 2024) – Walmart is accepting applications for its 11th annual Open Call event, inviting small business owners and entrepreneurs across the U.S. to apply for the opportunity to pitch their products to be sold on Walmart or Sam's Club shelves or on Walmart.com and SamsClub.com. Applications are open until July 15, 2024. Launched in 2014, Open Call is part of Walmart's $350 billion commitment to bolster U.S. manufacturing by sourcing shelf-ready products that are made, grown or assembled in the U.S. Open Call 2024 will be held on September 24 and 25. Last year, Walmart received more than 13,000 applications, ultimately selecting 700 businesses from all 50 states to make their pitch to Walmart merchants. For the first time in Open Call history, Walmart took its show on the road to Atlanta to visit the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs(RICE), which it awarded an $800,000 grant in 2023 to help develop entrepreneurs and small businesses. The investment is already paying off, as Walmart heard advance pitches from 19 RICE entrepreneurs – 12 of whom received a “fast pass” to go straight to September’s Open Call event in Arkansas. The fast passes are new this year, with a limited number being handed out across the country, further spotlighting the innovation and entrepreneurship happening in Atlanta. Below are the 12 Georgia fast pass winners now preparing for their trip to Bentonville:

RedDrop: a feminine hygiene brand designed specifically for school age tweens
S-Secrets: a personal hair care line, designed by and for textured hair individuals
Kayla’s Italian Ice: premium frozen desserts that are gluten, dairy, soy-free and made with real cane sugar
Scotch Boyz: line of bottled sauces
Yacht Club Access: luxury swim and resort wear
My Roots Are Rich: book and coloring book aiming to fight systemic racism
Kindred Paper: greeting card line
Emmerse: artisan curated scented soy candles
Honeysuckle Moon: skincare and wellness products
Khroma Kolors: hair coloring products
EssenceTree: handcrafted collection of premium natural bath and body products, including organic oils, body butters and soaps
Girl Supps: plant-based and gluten-free weight gaining supplements

"We are incredibly proud of the entrepreneurs who have earned Fast Passes for Walmart's Open Call event,” said Shalon Brown, director of marketing & communications for RICE. “The success of these companies is a testament to the impact of our partnership with Walmart and the endless potential for these businesses to make a significant mark in the marketplace. We look forward to seeing and continuing to fuel their growth and success. " Open Call offers an extraordinary growth opportunity for even more Georgia small and medium businesses. Selected entrepreneurs will have a one-on-one pitch meeting with Walmart and/or Sam's Club merchants. Entrepreneurs who secure a "golden ticket" — a deal for Walmart to sell their products in stores or online — can gain access to a vast customer base, enabling significant growth. After earning golden tickets, Open Call winners often go on to grow their manufacturing footprints and create jobs within their local communities.

About WalmartWalmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunities. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.