Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is changing its legal name to Walmart Inc. effective Feb. 1, according to a Dec. 6 press release.
"Our customers know us as Walmart and today they shop with us not only in our stores but online and with our app as well," said Douglas McMillon, CEO, president and director of Wal-Mart. "While our legal name is used in a limited number of places, we felt it was best to have a name that was consistent with the idea that you can shop us however you like as a customer."
Wal-Mart has had the legal name Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since 1970 which is the year the company went public. The company has used the current "Walmart" logo since 2008. The company will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange as WMT.
The world's largest retailer has more than 11,600 stores and clubs in 28 countries, along with about 60 banners, including e-commerce platforms. Wal-Mart's first international location opened in 1991 in Mexico City, and the big box retailer's e-commerce site Walmart.com launched in 2000.
