Walmart Awards Golden Tickets to 54 Entrepreneurs
The retailers annual Open Call event in Bentonville resulted in product deals for dozens of small business owners.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Local Shops
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Walmart selected 54 entrepreneurs to potentially stock their products on retail shelves or online following a competitive pitch event. These business owners were chosen from approximately 150 attendees representing 35 states and Puerto Rico.
Why it matters
The event serves as a major procurement platform for local and independent businesses to gain national retail distribution. It highlights the company ongoing efforts to expand its domestic supply chain through direct merchant engagement.
Walmart reported that more than two-thirds of its FY26 product spend was directed toward items made, grown, or assembled in the U.S. These selections were made from pitches across various categories, including home goods, pets, and personal care.
The players
Walmart
An American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets and discount department stores.
Sam's Club
An American chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart.
The details
Entrepreneurs from across the country traveled to Bentonville to pitch their goods directly to representatives from both Walmart and Sam's Club. The selected businesses now move toward potential partnership agreements with the retailer.
Timeline
The annual Open Call event occurred earlier this month.
Culture Shift
This initiative follows the ongoing trend of large retailers prioritizing domestic sourcing to stabilize supply chains and build brand rapport. It marks a departure from traditional reliance on mass-market overseas imports by directly vetting small-scale domestic producers.
Shoppers may soon see a wider variety of locally developed products on store shelves or available through the company online marketplace. These additions could change the range of options in categories like baby supplies, food, and home goods for regular customers.
The takeaway
Small business owners looking to scale should monitor major retail procurement events to identify direct pitch opportunities. Networking with regional merchants remains a primary pathway for domestic brands to achieve national distribution.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of regional business in Local Shops.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AMP.
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