Walmart makes major update to its stores: What to know

Walmart is restructuring several store-support roles in its latest bid to simplify operations and improve company-wide efficiencies, according to reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg.

The company made the announcement on Wednesday via a memo sent to employees, which the outlets have reviewed. Bloomberg reported that the retailer would cut hundreds of jobs as a result of the move.

Newsweek has contacted Walmart for comment on the announcement.

Why It Matters

With about 1.6 million workers in the U.S., Walmart is the nation’s largest private employer. While the restructuring efforts affect only a handful of positions, and the cuts are slight given the overall size of the company’s national and global workforce, they represent the latest effort by the retail giant to streamline operations amid a series of domestic headwinds.

What To Know

According to the memo, sent by Cedric Clark, Walmart’s executive vice president of U.S. store operations, the company will be eliminating its market coordinator role. This position typically involves administrative support, communication and scheduling, and assisting Walmart market managers in keeping multiple regional stores aligned and running smoothly.

In addition, Bloomberg and Reuters report that Walmart also plans to cut some roles at Walmart Academy, which provides training to store employees and managers. However, per the memo, the company will be adding new roles based on the needs of these training programs and will offer these to employees affected by the cuts.

This represents the latest effort by Walmart to restructure its large workforce in the interests of efficiency.

In a memo sent to employees in May and seen by Newsweek, Walmart announced an overhaul of its global tech, U.S. e-commerce and advertising arms—which it said would “remove layers and complexity, speed up decision-making, and help associates innovate rapidly.” A representative of Walmart told Newsweek at the time that the move would result in almost 1,500 roles being eliminated.

In February, the company asked employees in smaller offices to relocate to its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, or Sunnyvale, California. In a memo seen by Newsweek, Walmart said the move would help to “put key capabilities together, encouraging speed and shared understanding.”

While Walmart’s financials remain strong—reporting a 2.5 percent increase in net sales and revenue in its most recent quarter—the company is grappling with several challenges that could put pressure on its operations.

Walmart has warned that it may need to raise prices to offset the effects of President Donald Trump‘s tariffs “given the reality of small retail margins.” It is also facing intermittent boycotts of its stores led by anti-corporate activist groups.

What People Are Saying

Cedric Clark, Walmart’s executive vice president of U.S. store operations, said in the memo cited by Bloomberg: “We’re simplifying our market support structure, reducing touchpoints and friction for our store associates.”

What Happens Next

According to Bloomberg, the market coordinators and Walmart Academy coaches who have been affected by the announcement will be offered store-level roles in their local area.