SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Dear fellow shareholders,
Of the seven shareholder proposals on Walmart’s 2022 proxy statement—covering issues from discrimination to lobbying—the one that received the most support was about animal welfare.
As far back as its 2006 proxy statement, Walmart promised “action to further the humane treatment of animals in its supply chain.”
One practice addressed by the 2022 proposal was the confinement of pregnant pigs in gestation crates. Unlike pigs in group housing, those confined in solitary crates spend weeks or months unable to even turn around. They’re highly controversial, with eleven states banning or restricting them (see CageFreeLaws.com).
Further, a National Pork Producers Council spokesperson reported in 2023 that over 40% of domestic pork production now uses some form of group housing. And other companies have measurable targets for moving away from them. For example:
•Kroger is on track for “100% of fresh pork from sows in group housing” by 2025.
•Costco announced group housing domestically and in Canada “beginning in calendar 2023 for all fresh pork and Kirkland Signature cooler items.”
•Amazon “committed to sourcing gestation crate-free pork by 2025 in our grocery Private Brands fresh pork products in North America.”
•Ahold Delhaize “committed to eliminate the use of gestation stalls by 2025” for domestic brands.
•Target already ensures group housing for “the vast majority” of its fresh pork.
•McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Conagra, Aramark, Sodexo, and many others also have measurable targets.
But not Walmart.
In 2015, Walmart did announce it was asking suppliers to “implement solutions to” gestation crates.
A Los Angeles Times editorial reported that Walmart said this was “a response to company research that found 77% of [its] shoppers would increase their trust in a retailer that practiced humane treatment of livestock, and 66% would be more likely to shop at such a retailer.” It also followed Walmart protests, undercover supplier investigations, hundreds of thousands of petition signatures, and criticism from celebrities like Ryan Gosling.
Fast forward another seven years, though, and we return to that 2022 proposal.
In supporting it, Institutional Shareholder Services said Walmart still had “no commitment to transition away from gestation crates” or “stated goals on the topic.” It warned Walmart “likely faces increased risks,” and concluded, “Shareholders would benefit from increased disclosure and targets.”
We agree.
In fact, responding in its proxy statement, Walmart itself said it’s “not satisfied with the overall pace of progress,” and had commissioned a report “to assess opportunities” and recommend “how Walmart can accelerate.”
Yet it still lacks measurable targets.
Because our request is consistent with the practices of Walmart’s peers, the development of related regulations, and Walmart’s own objective stated nearly a decade ago, we believe shareholder support is clearly warranted. Thank you.

Filed by the Accountability Board.