TIMELINE: How Walmart Conquered the World

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This timeline is part of Mother Jones‘ investigation into Walmart’s much-praised green makeover, for which reporter Andy Kroll traveled to China, the home of many of the retail giant’s manufacturers. He found that although Walmart claims to be monitoring its factories’ compliance with environmental and labor rules, its auditing system is plagued by corruption. What’s more, many factories outsource more than half their work to “shadow” factories—unregulated operations that auditors never visit at all. To read the full story, click here.

1951	Sam Walton opens his first five-and-dime in Arkansas.
1985	Forbes reports that Walton, worth $2.8 billion, is the richest man in America. Steve McHenry/AP
1988	Some stores now feature oil change shops, banks, and salons.
1991	First foreign Walmart opens in Mexico City.
1992	President George H.W. Bush awards Walton the Medal of Freedom. Later that year, NBC Dateline reveals child labor at a Walmart supplier in Bangladesh.
1993	Walmart opens a prototype ecofriendly store in Kansas, featuring a man-made wetland and a roof made of sustainably harvested timber. The company starts selling goods made in China.
1994	After the National Advertising Review Board warns that “Always the low price. Always.” is misleading, Walmart changes slogan to “Always Low Prices. Always. Walmart.”
1995	Iowa State University researchers find that five years after the opening of a Walmart, nearby small-town stores see an average 25% decline (PDF) in sales; they conclude that “smaller towns suffer the brunt of the discount mass merchandisers.”
1996	Walmart opens its first store in China.
1999	Walmart becomes the largest private employer in the world.
2001	In what will become the largest civil rights class-action case against a private employer in US history, six female employees file a discrimination lawsuit (PDF) against the company. The Supreme Court rejects class-action status for the suit in 2011 (PDF), effectively killing the case. Joey Caputo/Brave New Films
2003 December	An anonymous blogger launches WalMart-Blows.com. Its “Work for Wal-Mart? Need to vent?” forum garners 10,000 posts.
2004 February	The Washington Post reports that in China, where 80% of the company’s suppliers are, Walmart’s factory employees work up to 80 hours a week and make as little as $75 a month.
2005	A leaked memo (PDF) reveals a Walmart HR exec’s proposal to “attract a healthier workforce” to cut back on health care costs.
2005 March	Federal investigators find that Walmart’s cleaning subcontractors hired 345 undocumented workers between 1998 and 2003.
2005 October	Walmart CEO Lee Scott says Walmart’s goal is to be 100% powered by renewable energy, create zero waste, and “sell products that sustain our resources and environment.” He doesn’t say by when.
2006	Walmart hires PR firm Edelman to launch a campaign around initiatives like increased starting pay, a $4 flat fee for generic prescription drugs, and a bargain organic foods line.
2007	A report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (PDF) finds that China produces 84% of Walmart’s wood products, a significant portion of which are sourced from illegal logging hot spots.
2008	Walmart rolls out a major initiative to reduce energy use and improve product safety in Chinese factories. It also changes its name from Wal-Mart to Walmart.
2009	An investigation by a Chinese labor watchdog group reveals that some Walmart suppliers created an “elaborate system to cheat Walmart audits.” Jason Lee/Reuters
2010 February	Walmart announces it will cut 20 million metric tons of emissions from its supply chain by 2015.
2010 May	Walmart agrees to pay $27.6 million after illegally dumping hazardous waste in 42 California counties.
2011 January	At the urging of Michelle Obama, Walmart pledges to eliminate trans fats from its packaged foods and reduce sodium and sugar by 25% and 10%, respectively.
2012	Walmart has 357 stores, 30,000 factories, and 96,800 workers in China, where 70% of the products it sells are made (PDF).
2012 April	A New York Times investigation alleges that Walmart’s Mexico branch “has orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance.” Walmart is Mexico’s largest private employer, with 209,000 workers.