Walmart Inc. reported strong holiday sales and said it would increase wages for about 425,000 employees after a year in which the Covid-19 pandemic intensified.
Comparable sales in the US or in stores and digital channels that have been operating for at least 12 months increased by 8.6% in the quarter ended January 29, an acceleration compared to the third quarter, when sales rose by 6.4% and higher than the forecasts of most analysts. US e-commerce sales, which include online food orders, rose 69% from a year earlier.
The country’s largest private employer has said it will raise wages for American workers to an average of more than $ 15 an hour. His minimum starting wage for American workers will remain at $ 11 an hour.
Wage increases will be for store and digital store workers, said John Furner, CEO of Walmart USA. It addresses roles that were particularly important during the pandemic, including workers who collect products from store shelves for online orders picked up in parking lots or delivered to their homes. Walmart has worked to keep the shelves stored, as buyers store certain items, such as food and cleaning products.
“We saw major changes in customer behavior last year, we believe it will be sustainable and we must continue to work to stay in stock, deliver items on time and deliver the best possible omni experience,” Mr Furner said. .