More than 500 Companies Chosen to Pitch Their U.S. Made Products at Walmart’s June 28 Open Call
June 22 2017 - 1:02PM
Business Wire
Fourth Annual Event Showcases American
Entrepreneurship, Ingenuity and Diversity
Walmart is inviting more than 500 businesses from across the
nation to present their Made in the USA products June 28 to the
world’s largest retailer in Bentonville, Ark., giving entrepreneurs
a unique opportunity to potentially reach millions of Walmart
customers.
Now in its fourth year, Walmart’s Open Call is one way in which
the company continues to invest in American jobs by accelerating
the growth of U.S. manufacturing. This year’s event will showcase
American entrepreneurship and celebrate ingenuity and diversity.
Nearly half of all businesses attending Open Call self-identify as
diverse, including 25 percent identifying as women-owned.
“We are thrilled that entrepreneurs from across the country,
including many diverse-owned businesses, continue to respond so
strongly to the opportunity to participate in Walmart’s annual Open
Call,” said Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart vice president for U.S.
Sourcing and Manufacturing. “While finding products our customers
want is a year-round focus for our buying teams, Walmart’s annual
Open Call is a special opportunity to connect our buyers with
companies that are manufacturing products in the U.S. and to
identify new and unique product solutions.”
Attendees this year represent 47 states and Puerto Rico. States
with some of the largest representation include California,
Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas
and Wisconsin.1
With some companies pitching multiple products, more than 750
meetings have been scheduled with Walmart buyers representing a
broad range of product categories.
From secret sauces and pocket-sized hair gel, to photographic
mouse pads and bowls designed to keep cereal crisp, this year’s
diversity of new, innovative products represent a broad range of
categories such as food and beverages, home décor and apparel.
While some businesses are larger, many are “kitchen-table”
companies, vying for a chance to work with the world’s largest
retailer and earn a place on the shelf. Some of this year’s Open
Call attendees include:
- Oceans 97 (Baton Rouge, LA.) –
Oceans 97 has a goal of bringing restaurant-quality shrimp and
seafood to the customers of Walmart. Founder Jarvis Green is a
former New England Patriots football player who says that if his
company reaches its goal, it would be a greater achievement than
playing in three Super Bowls and winning two of them.
- Micah Specialty Foods
(Cleveland, OH) – Imagine starting a company from your kitchen with
just your mother’s marinade sauce recipe from Ghana and a dream.
That is exactly what Micah Specialty Foods did. It is the company’s
goal to bring more African-American products to the shelves of
Walmart through the help of Open Call.
- The Blonde Italian (Cleveland,
OH) – The Blonde Italian is a woman-owned business that
carries a line of seasonings to spice up the lives of people from
all walks of life. Their goal is to get the unique blend of spices
in their Garden Garlic Seasoning on the shelves of Walmart and into
the cabinets and recipes of customers.
- Haven Sales & Marketing
(Ontario, CA) – When two Texas A&M college students began to
jazz up soy sauce in their college dorm room, no one thought there
would be an opportunity to have their Gourmet Orange Chili Soy
Sauce sold in Walmart stores. Manufactured and marketed by Haven
Sales & Marketing, the company has already created 70 jobs
manufacturing this product and other flavored soy sauces.
- Nuts & Cows (McAllen, TX) –
When Elizabeth Davis started Nuts & Cows with $84 and a dream,
she never imagined that one of her products would be considered by
Walmart. Buttery Pecan Butter is an all-natural product that is
made with love in her own kitchen. Elizabeth is passionate about
her products and the idea that anyone can follow their dream, no
matter who they are.
- 51 Club (Spokane, WA) – It all
began when one person thought there had to be an easier way to
change a flat tire. 51 Club is bringing their product, the Spare Me
5-in-1 Rescue Tool, to Open Call in the hopes of getting every
Walmart shopper with car troubles out of a bind. The “all purpose,
all weather and all terrain” tool is manufactured in Spokane, where
the creator lives.
- Mary’s Kitchen (Richmond, VA) –
Some people may think that their Sweet Potato Pie is the best, but
Mary Lee truly believes her pie takes first prize. When she
was a child, people would line up to get her mother Dorothy’s sweet
potato pies; and now Mary is bringing the same recipe to Open Call.
This is a chance for her to share her family’s tradition with
Walmart shoppers.
- Kid Ease (Dallas, TX) – Kid Ease
was created by a mom looking for a safe, lab-tested cleaning spray
to clean up sticky little fingers and faces. Owner Jessica Gore is
excited to bring her product to families shopping at Walmart. She
hopes that she can ramp up production and create more jobs, if she
receives a deal.
- Forever Fit (Minneapolis, MN) –
Soggy cereal is no way to start the day, according to Forever Fit.
That’s why they created the Perfect Cereal Bowl uniquely designed
to keep cereal crisp before you get to the bottom of the bowl. The
product is manufactured in the same Minnesota town where it
originated.
- Photos to Design (Woodland, CA)
– Just like the phrase “pretty as a picture,” Photos to Design has
a desire to share beauty captured through a photo. The product,
Be-U-Ti-FUL, is a special mouse pad with floral images taken by
owner Janet Jones. She hopes Open Call gives her a greater ability
to share her images.
- Anndori Outdoor Art (Greensboro,
NC) – Have you ever tried to create a large Christmas ball
from chicken wire and stringed lights? It’s not easy. Sandra
Alexander made a simple craft solution that creates beautiful
holiday décor that won’t leave scratches from chicken wire. She
hopes that the Craft Lover’s Holiday Light Ball Kit brings
consumers joy, but that the product also allows her to create more
jobs.
- Disaster Supply Warehouse
(Fairfield, OH) – Disaster Supply is a woman-owned business that
brings two products to Open Call. The first is a disposable utensil
stand that ensures your silverware is clean even when dining
outside. The second is Buxom Betty’s Button Stays. A product that
helps prevent ladies’ shirts from gaping open around
buttonholes.
- C & C Foods (Charleston,
SC) – Sweet Savina Surprise is a sauce with a little heat and
a little sweet. A unique pepper discovered on an African mission
trip inspired the one-of-a-kind recipe made with locally grown
ingredients in the Charleston area. C & C Foods hopes to bring
this surprising sauce to the shelves of Walmart through Open
Call.
- Pocket Gel, Inc. (Pittsburgh,
PA) – If you have gotten caught in the wind, rain or snow and
wished you had some hair gel, Pocket Gel believes it has the
product for you. Founder Nathan Failla began putting hair gel
in foil to carry to the gym when he realized he couldn’t be the
only one with this need. He continued to refine the packaging until
he created Pocket Gel Instant Hair Gel.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world
save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail
stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over
260 million customers and members visit our 11,695 stores under 59
banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries.
With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs
approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues
to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and
employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be
found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at
http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/walmart.
________________________________________1 States represent
location where business has self-reported that their product is
manufactured.
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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.Scott Markley,
800-331-0085news.walmart.com/reporter
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