Executive VP, Consumables

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Latriece Watkins, who was promoted to her current role of executive vice president of consumables in January 2020, says the pandemic has sparked some changes to the business that will likely persist.

Latriece Watkins

“Convenience has been redefined,” Watkins notes. “Shopping online has accelerated — both in the market and at Walmart — moving ahead by three to five years. Customers are using digital tools to plan their trips and when shopping in stores; they check in-stocks and look for digital savings. Today, time is increasingly part of the customer’s value equation, so enabling convenience is essential.”

Saving money remains a priority, though, as customers think about both affordability and value. Consumers are taking a more proactive approach to health, Watkins adds. “Customers have learned a lot this year about how to prevent sickness, and they’re adopting new habits every day that can keep them healthier, like more rigorous cleaning, new vitamin routines. In the future we expect that customers’ new standards for cleaning, hygiene, and health and wellness will continue.”

Another trend that is likely to have staying power is that consumers are looking for brands with a purpose.

“There has been a rise in support for socially responsible brands — from sustainability to social justice to made in the USA,” Watkins says. “Companies are not just evaluated on their bottom line but on how they create shared value. Customers want to hear how companies and brands are helping their communities and making our country and our planet better.”

Watkins adds that responding to these kinds of shifts in consumer priorities and preferences is nothing new for Walmart.

“Change is a constant in retail since retailing first began,” she says. “We will continue to give customers what they need and help them discover new products and services that help them live better — that is our core. However, I also think you’ll see us deliver more services and experiences for customers. Personalization is important as well.”

Watkins says Walmart’s merchants, as advocates for the retailer’s customers, are maniacal about making it easy for customers to shop for the things they want and need.

“In retail, you have to be as passionate about driving innovation as you are about serving your customers, because that unrelenting passion will fuel your growth,” she says. “This means innovating how you serve them and what you offer, by leveraging technology to make the shopping experience more convenient, for example. Whether it’s product search, checkout and return, or fulfillment, customers expect a smooth journey.

“We will be a brand that people trust to simplify their lives, whether that’s by having products they use daily delivered to their doorstep with Walmart+ or using our app to quickly search through millions of new products and services — we will be there for how and when they want to shop.

“But something that won’t change is our ability to have an impact in our communities, whether it’s through our sustainability efforts, advancing racial equity or growing small suppliers. I’m so proud to work for a company that is doing good and that enables, influences and empowers others to do good as well.”