Wal-Mart Fights Back Against Negative Press

Wal-Mart Stores [WMT], always a lightning rod for criticism as the world's largest retailer, especially from unions and the political left, recently undertook a campaign to restore its image, AP reports:

Wal-Mart stepped up its campaign against negative publicity, calling the company's low-price model "good for America" and accusing opponents of protecting inefficient practices that cost consumers.

Addressing about 50 journalists gathered this week at the company's media conference - its first ever such event - Chief Executive Lee Scott defended Wal-Mart's wages and health care plans, criticized by labor groups as inadequate, and said that the company is able to save customers big money as it drives costs from its system.

"Innovation and competition tend to change the status quo," said Scott, speaking Tuesday at a hotel in Rogers, a few miles from Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Bentonville headquarters.

The two-day conference is part of a stepped-up public relations campaign begun last year to burnish Wal-Mart's image and counter views that the world's largest retailer - and nation's biggest private employer - skimps on wages and benefits while filling America's suburbs with boxy warehouses and acres of parking lots. On Tuesday, company spokeswoman Mona Williams urged reporters to clear their minds of previous articles about the company and "start with a clean slate."

See also Wal-Mart Settles Illegal Immigrant Case for $11M Fox News, 3/19/05

According to opensecrets.org, Wal-Mart was the top campaign contributor in 2004 in the Retail Sales industry, and gave 80% of its overall contributions to Republicans.

[Updated 4/8/05]