Walmart Inc. reported heavy holiday sales and said it would raise wages to about 425,000 employees after a year in which the Covid-19 pandemic boosted its business.
Comparable sales in the U.S., or digital stores and channels operating for at least 12 months, rose 8.6% in the quarter ended Jan. 29, an acceleration from the third quarter, when sales rose 6 percent. , 4% and were higher than the forecasts of most analysts. E-commerce sales in the U.S., which include online grocery orders, were up 69% from the previous year.
The country’s top private employer said it would increase the pay of American workers to an average of more than $ 15 per hour. Their initial minimum wage for American workers will remain at $ 11 per hour.
Wage increases will be for store workers with digital and storage functions, said John Furner, Walmart’s chief executive officer. This is geared towards roles that have been especially important during the pandemic, including workers collecting products on store shelves to get online orders picked up in parking lots or delivered to homes. Walmart has worked to ensure that shelves are stocked while shoppers store certain items, such as food and cleaning supplies.
“We saw significant changes in customer behavior last year, we believe it will be lasting, and we must continue to work to stay in stock, deliver items on time, and provide the best omni experience possible,” Furner said.