Sunday, November 3, 2013

Walmart Announces New U.S. Manufacturing Commitments at SelectUSA Summit

Mike Duke April 2013 Global Milestone Meeting

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 the Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 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.

0 comments:

Post a Comment