Who founded Wal-Mart and turned it into a major discount retailer?

• A. Howard Schultz
• B. Sam Walton
• C. Richard Branson
• D. Michael Dell

Answer: (B)

Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart and built it into a major discount retailer by combining low prices with high-volume sales and tight cost control. He opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, then expanded aggressively to rural and small-town markets, showing that everyday low prices could attract large, loyal customer bases. Walton pushed supply-chain efficiency, centralized purchasing, and later data-driven inventory management, which slashed costs and allowed Wal-Mart to outprice competitors while growing vast numbers of stores. This combination of expansive growth and relentless focus on value transformed Wal-Mart from a single discount store into a nationwide and then global retail powerhouse. The other names are notable in different industries, but they did not found Wal-Mart.