Walmart cracks down on founding Walton's legacy

Most family businesses go to great lengths to preserve some of the traditions established by their founders. But now retail giant Walmart, controlled by members of the Walton family, seems to be turning its back on its founder’s legacy.

The American company has removed greeting staff from overnight shifts at its US stores, in a move that takes away a bit of the family business’s 30-year-old practice of ensuring all customers are welcomed into shops.

The tradition first began in 1980, when Walmart founder, Sam Walton, added greeters at the doors in an attempt to make Walmart stores more friendly and welcoming.

But now, greeters working the 10pm to 7am shift have reportedly been transferred to other departments such as stocking or inventory, as the world’s largest retailer has decided it is more important to cut costs and boost profits.

Perhaps the first blow towards rethinking age-old traditions, but in the name of improving sales and lowering prices what other legacies could the Walton family chop down?