Wal-Mart Becomes First Nationwide U.S. Grocer to Adopt Global Food Safety Initiative...

Wal-Mart Becomes First Nationwide U.S. Grocer to Adopt Global Food Safety
Initiative Standards
Nation's largest grocery chain requires suppliers of private label and select
food products to comply with standards above FDA or USDA requirements by end
of 2008

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
has become the first nationwide U.S. grocery chain to require suppliers of its
private label and other food products such as produce, meat, fish, poultry and
ready-to-eat foods to have their factories certified against one of the
internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards.
A group of major international retailers committed to strengthening
consumer confidence in the food they purchase, the GFSI now lists Wal-Mart
among the companies who have agreed to improve food safety through a higher
and consistent auditing standard.
Selected by CIES (http://www.ciesnet.com/), the Food Business Forum, to
safeguard and ensure high quality in the international food supply chain, GFSI
standards provide real time details on where suppliers fall short in food
safety on a plant-by-plant basis, and go beyond the current FDA or USDA
required audit process. Under the GFSI program, producers of Wal-Mart and
Sam's Club private label and other foods sold in the U.S. must be audited by
independently trained, approved and licensed auditors who are experts in their
industry.
"The requirement for suppliers to complete these certifications
demonstrates our leadership in food safety and our commitment to global safety
standards," said J.P. Suarez, Wal-Mart's senior vice president and chief
compliance officer, and a board member of the Global Food Safety Initiative.
"Food safety has always been a top priority at Wal-Mart. We are taking this
additional step to ensure the integrity of our products throughout the entire
food supply chain. We encourage other U.S. retailers to follow our lead and to
also endorse these standards."
The GFSI requires food suppliers to achieve factory audit certification
against one of its recognized standards, which include Safe Quality Food
(SQF), British Retail Consortium (BRC), International Food Standard (IFS), or
an equivalent such as Global-GAP. Wal-Mart has published a schedule to
suppliers requiring completion of initial certification between July and
December of 2008, with full certification required by July 2009. Audits will
be completed by approved third party auditing companies.
Wal-Mart private label food brands in the U.S. are Great Value and Sam's
Choice. Sam's Club private label food brands in the U.S. include Member's Mark
and Bakers & Chefs.
"Our customers expect high quality at every day low prices when they
purchase any of our private label foods, and we're committed to meeting -- and
exceeding -- their expectations," said Andrea Thomas, Wal-Mart's senior vice
president, private brands. "The GFSI standards are an added step that will
help us -- and our U.S. food producers -- keep our quality commitment."
Internationally, Wal-Mart stores in the United Kingdom (ASDA) and Japan
(Seiyu) also require suppliers of food products to comply with GFSI standards.
The Global Food Safety Initiative was launched in May 2000 to establish
food safety management systems to ensure confidence in the delivery of safe
food to consumers. The initiative has fostered a convergence among food
safety standards, achieved cost efficiencies through common acceptance of GFSI
recognized standards, and provided a forum for exchange of best food safety
practices.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club locations in the United States. The
Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United
Kingdom. Wal-Mart serves more than 176 million customers weekly in 14 markets.
The Company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WMT. For more information: http://www.walmartfacts.com.
SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Deisha Galberth of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 1-800-331-0085