Walmart and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Pritzker Announce New U.S. Manufacturing Commitments at SelectUSA Summit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on Walmart's commitment to purchase an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next 10 years, Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced at the SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit that three suppliers have made new domestic manufacturing commitments that will create 385 jobs. 

Elan-Polo, Louis Hornick & Company and EveryWare Global, Inc. will produce footwear, curtains and glassware, respectively. Acceleration of the three commitments followed Walmart's U.S. Manufacturing Summit in Orlando on August 22, which was attended by more than 500 suppliers and 34 states.

"Today's announcement is a great example of the progress that's being made, and it highlights opportunities that exist for manufacturers to invest in the USA by re-shoring or expanding their manufacturing in America," said Simon. "Companies, government officials and industry leaders are working together to increase manufacturing, and these efforts are helping more Americans get into good-paying jobs and more businesses reinvest in the U.S. economy." 

"We're hosting the SelectUSA Summit to showcase why there has never been a better time to invest in America, and Walmart supports that effort," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. "For retailers like Walmart, who they choose to buy from makes a difference. Since Walmart announced its commitment earlier this year to buy an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next 10 years, manufacturers have committed to investments in the U.S. that will create more than 1,600 jobs. Today's announcement builds on that success, and demonstrates that companies truly recognize the advantages of investing in America."

Elan-Polo, Inc., a global footwear and 35-year Walmart supplier, will start production of injection-molded footwear in March 2014 at a factory in Hazelhurst, Ga., as part of a joint venture with McPherson Manufacturing. Once at full capacity, this new facility will create 250 jobs and produce 20,000 pairs of shoes per day. Previously, the company manufactured the shoes overseas.

EveryWare Global, Inc., which manufactures bakeware, beverageware, tabletop and household glassware, will produce Mainstays Canning Jars for Walmart in its Monaca, Pa., facility. The company is investing $1.8 million to expand factory capacity and establish a new product line made in the U.S. The agreement will create new manufacturing jobs in the Monaca facility. Founded in 1905, Anchor Hocking, an EveryWare Global brand, has been supplying products to Walmart for over 25 years and has 1,811 employees in the United States.

Louis Hornick & Company, a leading manufacturer and importer of window coverings and home textiles, will invest $2.5 million to establish a new manufacturing facility in Allendale County, South Carolina. The investment is expected to create 125 new jobs over the next three years. The company has been supplying Walmart for 40 years.

Significant Progress Since Walmart's January Manufacturing Commitment
Since Walmart's January announcement of its commitment to buy an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next 10 years, manufacturers have committed to create more than 1,600 jobs and invest more than $100 million in industries that include socks, televisions, light bulbs and hardware. Factoring in today's announcement, more than 600 of those job commitments have been announced since Walmart's U.S. Manufacturing Summit. This includes:

• Tailor Made Products, a kitchen utensil manufacturer, is making a $2 million investment that will add 12 new manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin.
• Redman & Associates will invest $6.5 million to manufacture ride-on toys in a facility in Arkansas, creating 74 jobs.
• Korona Candles will invest $18.5 million that will generate 170 jobs in Virginia to produce Mainstays Tealight Candles.

Quotations from Elan-Polo, EveryWare Global and Louis Hornick Executives
"This announcement of 250 new jobs and a new shoe manufacturing facility in Georgia was made possible by Walmart's support, which included guidance in contacting various states and help developing the project with necessary participants–government, utilities, banks, and equipment suppliers. We will see genuine economic value added through shorter lead times, more efficient purchasing and savings on shipping and oversight expenses."  – Joe Russell, CEO of Elan-Polo, Inc.

"We are constantly evaluating the best uses of our capital and that includes the opportunity to partner with our largest customer to invest in our existing operations and produce quality glass solutions. In working with Walmart, we are now able to make a strategic investment that will enable us to transition the canning category to a complete 'Made in the USA' product line.  Our strong 25 year foundation with Walmart clearly supported this decision to invest, expand U.S. manufacturing capabilities and create more jobs." – John Sheppard, CEO EveryWare Global.

"Every aspect of this venture is geared toward offering the most options to our retail partners and manufacturing the highest quality products the American consumer demands and deserves. We aren't just building a facility – we are moving to South Carolina. The fact that three Manhattan residents are doing so is testament to our dedication, but, equally, reflects on the wonderful people in the great state of South Carolina. We appreciate the exceptional support we've received from state and local officials."  – Louis "Tripp" Hornick III, chief operating officer of Louis Hornick & Company

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, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 11,000 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 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/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

About SelectUSA
The U.S. Department of Commerce is holding the first-ever SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit to connect foreign and domestic investors with local, state, and regional economic development organizations in an effort to promote investment and job creation in the United States. More than 1,200 attendees from nearly 60 countries around the world will be participating in the conference, along with economic development officials from 47 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories.

SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.