Walmart Vriddhi empowers 50,000+ MSMEs to join retail supply chains through digital training and mentorship
- MSMEs onboarded onto the Flipkart Marketplace are leveraging the platform to grow and scale their reach to more than 500 million Flipkart consumers across India.
- States such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Assam, among others, have signed MOUs with the program to aid MSME capacity-building. During the pandemic, Walmart Vriddhi facilitated MSMEs to transition to digital retail, providing crucial business advice and resources.
BENTONVILLE, Ark., and NEW DELHI, February 13, 2024: Walmart today announced that its supplier development program, Walmart Vriddhi, has achieved its goal of empowering more than 50,000 MSMEs over five years. Launched in December 2019, the program provides free training, mentoring and digital tools to help businesses grow, scale and integrate into domestic supply chains. The program reached this milestone well ahead of schedule.
The program, together with Walmart’s program partner, Swasti, offers local suppliers the chance to access training, mentoring, and business advice while tapping into Flipkart’s platform expertise. The digital training provided to MSMEs covers crucial aspects of business management such as finance, marketing, workforce management and environmental sustainability. This empowers entrepreneurs to establish successful and sustainable business models, while contributing to employment opportunities in local communities.
The program is accessible across India and has played a pivotal role in connecting MSMEs in key centres such as Moradabad and Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Panipat (Haryana), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Surat (Gujarat), Guwahati (Assam), and Tirupur (Tamil Nadu). This connection with consumers nationwide is also achieved through collaborations with the respective states governments. The Walmart Vriddhi graduates, who have already been integrated into the Flipkart Marketplace, have witnessed approximately 55% growth Y-o-Y.
Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President, Supplier Development, at Walmart, said, “Empowering MSMEs is at the heart of Walmart’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth. I commend the 50,000+ Walmart Vriddhi graduates for their unwavering dedication to the initiative. The rapid growth they have achieved stands as a testament to the program’s robust curriculum, effective delivery and the valuable partnerships forged at every step. We eagerly anticipate these businesses reinvesting in their communities, generating new jobs, stimulating local value chains and economies, and acting as catalysts in India’s burgeoning economy.”
Rakesh Krishnan, Vice President and Head of Marketplace at Flipkart said, “Flipkart’s mission is to create opportunities for sellers to thrive in the digital age. The Walmart Vriddhi program has significantly enhanced Flipkart’s capacity to serve as a preferred platform. It has enabled first-time sellers to establish connections and reach buyers across the country, democratizing eCommerce on a large scale and setting off a chain reaction that contributes to more livelihoods and greater prosperity.”
Joseph Julian, Program Director, Swasti said, “Swasti is honored to be a partner in digitizing and empowering over 50,000 MSMEs through the Walmart Vriddhi program. The program underscores the vital importance of comprehensive support systems for entrepreneurs. We are proud to contribute to this significant endeavor and committed to supporting MSMEs through our unique learning modules that are designed to equip them with essential skills for sustainable growth in today’s business landscape.”
Shri Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of India, said, “As India advances towards achieving a $5 trillion economy, a substantial portion of this growth will be driven by a competitive and productive MSME sector, serving as a catalyst for economic expansion and job creation. The government actively supports the promotion and development of the MSME sector across all states.” He further added, “Initiatives like the Walmart Vriddhi program play a pivotal role in facilitating the digital transformation and growth of MSMEs. I extend my congratulations to the Walmart and Flipkart team for providing over 50,000 Vriddhi graduates with the opportunity to unlock market opportunities.”
The following success stories of a few Walmart Vriddhi graduates exemplify the program’s role in scaling their businesses and achieving success:
Ishita Jolly, Business Development Manager, (manufactures high-quality aluminium foil and butter paper), New Delhi said, “Established in 2008 as a traditional family business, Europhil adapted to the rise in online shopping post-COVID-19. Our digital journey reached a turning point with the transformative partnership with Walmart Vriddhi in 2023. The program provided crucial insights into online business strategies, enhancing our presence on platforms like Flipkart. This knowledge led to a remarkable 15% revenue growth, showcasing the significant impact of the Walmart Vriddhi association on our business.”
Vikalp Maithil: Co-founder, Pavika Organics (Cold pressed oils), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh said, “Our venture, Pavika Organics, found its true potential with the Walmart Vriddhi program. Joining in April 2022, we experienced a dramatic 40% increase in sales, largely attributed to the program’s mentorship. It guided us in areas like marketing, finance, and brand value. The highlight was onboarding onto Flipkart, which expanded our reach beyond Madhya Pradesh and led to a tenfold sales increase in 2023. The program not only facilitated business growth but also empowered us to navigate the eCommerce landscape effectively.”
Prerna Agarwal: Founder, Samakhya Sustainable Alternatives (Handcrafted lifestyle products), Bikaner, Rajasthan said, “Embarking on the Walmart Vriddhi program in 2023 was a transformative step for Samakhya. The program’s holistic mentorship enabled me to refine our business strategies and train my team effectively. It helped articulate the unique standpoints of our two brands and enhanced our operational efficiency. The emphasis on rural visibility and supply chain improvements was invaluable. Notably, the journey from zero to significant sales figures on platforms like Flipkart, and the expansion of our network to include over 3000 artisans and farmers, are testaments to the program’s effectiveness in propelling Samakhya’s growth and impact in social entrepreneurship.”
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.
About Swasti
Swasti, a part of the Catalyst Group, is headquartered in Bengaluru, India and active globally with a footprint in 30 countries, and was founded in 2004. Swasti co-designs demonstrable and scalable solution models in partnership with communities on the ground and influences policies nationally and internationally. Over the past 15 years, Swasti has directly reached over 400,000 people through its initiatives, including more than 238,000 factory workers, the majority of whom are women.
About Flipkart
The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.
Started in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India’s digital commerce revolution. With a registered customer base of more than 500 million, Flipkart’s marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 14 lakh sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created lakhs of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI and easy returns, which are customer-centric innovations that have made online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians. For more information, please write to media@flipkart.com.