Walmart's 2025 Open Call Application Process Begins Today
Walmart's Open Call 2025 Expands to Include Manufacturing Innovations
Walmart, one of the world's largest retailers, has announced that its annual Open Call event is expanding to include innovative manufacturing solutions. This year's event, scheduled for October 7-8, 2025, in Bentonville, Arkansas, will provide U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small manufacturers with the opportunity to pitch their ideas to Walmart and Sam’s Club buyers [1][2][3].
For 2025, Walmart has expanded Open Call eligibility to include not only finished products but also breakthrough innovations in manufacturing. They seek innovative manufacturing solutions that reduce cost, complexity, or environmental impact, aligning with Walmart’s $350 billion commitment to U.S.-made goods [1][3].
Specifically, Walmart is interested in manufacturing innovations in areas such as yield insights, shelf-life extension, alternative materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies [1][3]. These innovations aim to support and strengthen domestic manufacturing by overcoming infrastructure and tooling challenges, thereby unlocking new possibilities for U.S. manufacturing [1][3].
Applicants can submit via an online form by July 25, 2025, and a select group will be invited to pitch live at the event alongside traditional product-based applicants [1][3]. A concrete example includes Walmart’s collaboration with Unspun, a company pioneering 3D weaving technologies to streamline the textile supply chain and revolutionize the industry [2].
Walmart's Open Call is part of a broader commitment to supporting U.S. small businesses. Since 2014, Open Call has helped thousands of small and medium businesses grow their operations [1][3]. In April, Walmart launched a new program named "Grow with US" to provide U.S. small businesses with resources for success with Walmart [1][3].
Walmart, founded by Sam Walton, has a long-standing commitment to U.S. products. Sam Walton initiated a "Buy American" program forty years ago, and this commitment continues today. Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart U.S. is the No. 1 food and consumables retailer in North America, according to Progressive Grocer’s 2025 list [1][3].
With approximately 270 million customers and members visiting Walmart's stores and e-commerce websites in 19 countries each week, the retail giant offers a significant platform for U.S. entrepreneurs and small manufacturers [1][3]. The Open Call event takes place on October 7-8 and offers U.S. entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their products to Walmart and Sam's Club merchants. The deadline to submit applications for Open Call 2025 is July 25.
[1] Walmart Newsroom. (2023, March 29). Walmart's Open Call 2025 expands to include manufacturing innovations. Retrieved from https://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2023/03/29/walmart-s-open-call-2025-expands-to-include-manufacturing-innovations
[2] Walmart. (2023, April 20). Walmart and Unspun team up to revolutionize the textile supply chain. Retrieved from https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2023/04/20/walmart-and-unspun-team-up-to-revolutionize-the-textile-supply-chain
[3] Progressive Grocer. (2023, April 10). Progressive Grocer's Retailers of the Century: Walmart. Retrieved from https://www.progressivegrocer.com/retailers-century/walmart
In alignment with the expansion of Walmart's Open Call event, the retail giant is seeking innovative manufacturing solutions in areas such as yield insights, shelf-life extension, alternative materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies from U.S. entrepreneurs and small manufacturers, aiming to reduce cost, complexity, or environmental impact. This year's Open Call, scheduled for October 7-8, 2025, also invites applications from business entities working in the finance sector, as the selected innovations could potentially lead to significant cost reductions within the retail industry.
