DORIS HAJEWSKI
5 April 2008
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is recruiting local vendors who want to sell earth-friendly goods and services to nearby stores.
The company put out a call this week to farmers and service providers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, asking those interested to contact local store managers with proposals.
"We're always looking for ways to build relationships with suppliers," said Mia Masten, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart.
This public call for vendors is being made just in the two states, Masten said. The market managers for Wisconsin and Minnesota came up with the idea as a way to meet their goals for their sustainability projects and to bring more environmentally friendly vendors to their stores. The call is aimed at small providers, she said.
Examples of what Wal-Mart is looking for include organic produce, landscape services that use water-saving techniques, recycling companies and cleaning services that capture water for reuse.
After a contact is made, a meeting is arranged with the store manager. If the manager wants to buy from the vendor, the proposal is submitted to Wal-Mart's corporate office. If approved, the vendors provide services for a six- to-12-month trial period, and may continue if the trial is successful.
Wal-Mart operates 56 Supercenters, 26 discount stores and 12 Sam's Clubs in Wisconsin. Those stores purchase $4.1 billion worth of products from suppliers, including 1,523 in Wisconsin.
When the new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Columbia earlier this fall, it provided job opportunities for more than 200 people...
