News

Walmart partners with Japan e-commerce player Rakuten

January 29, 2018

Walmart is teaming up with Rakuten, Japan’s biggest ecommerce retailer, on an online grocery effort in Japan, according to an NPR report.

The U.S. retailer will provide a channel for Rakuten to sell digital books and audiobooks in the U.S., stated the report.

"Working with Rakuten Kobo enables us to quickly and efficiently launch a full ebook and audiobook catalog on Walmart.com to provide our customers with additional choices alongside our assortment of physical books," stated Scott Hilton, chief revenue office for Walmart U.S. ecommerce, in a blog post.

The partnership news comes on the heels of Walmart laying off hundreds at its corporate offices and a move to boost the hourly wage for workers.