Walmart Files Trademark and Revises DEI Policies Amid Conservative Pushback
Dec/02/2024
On November 19, Walmart filed a trademark for 'BETTERGOODS,' covering a diverse range of food products, from sausages and soups to frozen empanadas and pasta sauces. On the same day, the retail giant also lodged an opposition against Kube Innovations LLC’s trademark application for 'MAINSTAY LABELS,' asserting its similarity to Walmart’s established 'MAINSTAY' brand. In parallel, Walmart announced substantial revisions to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including ending race and gender considerations in supplier diversity assessments and curbing racial equity training programs. The company will no longer participate in LGBTQ advocacy rankings or assess supplier financing based on demographic data. These changes, which align with similar policy rollbacks by corporations such as Starbucks and Ford, come amidst growing conservative pressure on DEI initiatives. Activist Robby Starbuck attributed the shift to discussions with Walmart, while the retailer emphasized its commitment to evolving with societal changes while maintaining broad consumer appeal in a polarized climate. The following visualization provides detailed information about Walmart’s newly filed 'BETTERGOODS' trademark.
