--- title: Walmart’s Biggest Pitch Event for Emerging Brands Is Back description: Walmart’s Open Call 2025 gives U.S.-based brands a rare shot to pitch buyers directly and fast-track national retail deals. Apply by July 25. image: https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hubfs/Walmart%20open%20call%20blog%20cover.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back#main-content) [![LUNR logo](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hubfs/se3condary%20horizontal%20purp.svg)](https://www.lunrcapital.com/) - [WHAT WE OFFER](https://www.lunrcapital.com/what-we-offer) - [SUCCESS STORIES](https://www.lunrcapital.com/success-stories) - [ABOUT US](https://www.lunrcapital.com/about-us) - [BLOG](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [WHAT WE OFFER](https://www.lunrcapital.com/what-we-offer) - [SUCCESS STORIES](https://www.lunrcapital.com/success-stories) - [ABOUT US](https://www.lunrcapital.com/about-us) - [BLOG](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.lunrcapital.com/contact-us) [CONTACT US](https://www.lunrcapital.com/contact-us) Jul 17, 2025 # Walmart’s Biggest Pitch Event for Emerging Brands Is Back [The Lunr Team](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/author/the-lunr-team) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back) ![Walmart open call blog cover](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Walmart%20open%20call%20blog%20cover.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Walmart%20open%20call%20blog%20cover.png) Earlier this month, we shared details about for emerging food, beverage, and health brands. Now, Walmart is opening [applications](https://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/investing-in-american-jobs/events/annual-open-call/open-call-2025) for Open Call 2025, one of the most established and impactful retail pitch opportunities in the country. Open Call is Walmart’s flagship event for suppliers with products made, grown, or assembled in the U.S. It gives founders a rare opportunity to pitch directly to Walmart and Sam’s Club buyers. For many early-stage consumer brands, it’s a meaningful chance to fast-track national distribution. # Key dates to know - Applications are open now via RangeMe: [https://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/investing-in-american-jobs/events/annual-open-call/open-call-2025](https://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/investing-in-american-jobs/events/annual-open-call/open-call-2025) - Deadline to apply: July 25, 2025 - Notifications sent to selected brands: September 2 - In-person pitch event: October 7 and 8 in Bentonville, Arkansas Walmart is reviewing two types of applications: 1. Shelf-ready products for in-store or online distribution 2. Manufacturing innovations that reduce cost, improve sustainability, or support U.S. production Selected brands will receive 30-minute one-on-one meetings with Walmart or Sam’s Club buyers. These sessions have led to local store trials, regional rollouts, and full national launches. # Why Walmart is a valuable partner for growth-stage brands More than 60 percent of Walmart’s U.S. suppliers are small businesses, and hundreds got their start through Open Call. Increasingly, brands we work with at Lunr are exploring Walmart as a strategic retail channel because of the company’s national footprint, omnichannel reach, and growing infrastructure for supporting emerging suppliers. Walmart’s continued investment in early-stage brands is backed by strong performance. The company’s stock rose 72 percent in 2024 and is up another 16 percent so far in 2025, reflecting investor confidence in its long-term retail and supplier strategy. To help small businesses succeed in the Walmart ecosystem, the company recently introduced **Grow With Us**, a new support program that complements opportunities like Open Call. The program is optional and includes: - A 30-module Supplier Academy focused on retail readiness - Mentorship from experienced Walmart partners - Access to early payment programs and financing tools through Walmart’s bridge loan marketplace Grow With Us helps small brands navigate the complexities of large-scale retail and build the foundation for long-term success. # Open Call success stories: Smackin’ Sunflower Seeds One of last year’s standout Open Call moments came from [*Smackin’*,](https://talkbusiness.net/2024/09/walmart-open-call-wraps-up-after-more-than-800-meetings/) a Minneapolis-based sunflower seed company. After pitching their low-sodium, flavor-packed snacks, the team received a “golden ticket” from Walmart’s export buyer for Canada. Smackin’ is a lean team of just eight people, but they’re ready to scale. With Canadian distribution underway and U.S. Walmart buyers now in conversation, the brand is a great example of how Open Call can open real doors for emerging suppliers. # How to apply 1. Create a free product profile on[RangeMe](https://www.rangeme.com/) 2. Confirm your product meets Walmart’s U.S.-origin criteria 3. Submit your application through the Walmart Open Call portal [Apply to Open Call 2025](https://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/investing-in-american-jobs/events/annual-open-call/open-call-2025) # Lunr in Bentonville The Lunr Capital team will be in Bentonville this September, hosting the emerging brand collective. If you want to chat with a small group of venture capitalists that , we would love to connect! ## Related posts [![Lunr / Bridge partnership cover](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LunrBridge%20Partnership%20Cover.png?height=200&name=LunrBridge%20Partnership%20Cover.png)](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/lunr-partners-with-walmarts-bridge-marketplace) ## [Lunr Partners with Walmart's Bridge Marketplace](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/lunr-partners-with-walmarts-bridge-marketplace) [The Lunr Team](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/author/the-lunr-team) Jun 3, 2024 Today, we're excited to announce our new partnership with Bridge, Walmart's innovative lending... [Read more](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/lunr-partners-with-walmarts-bridge-marketplace) [![](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bentonville%20Blog%20Cover%202-1.png?height=200&name=Bentonville%20Blog%20Cover%202-1.png)](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/our-exclusive-look-inside-the-walmart-ecosystem) ## [Lunr Goes to Bentonville: Our Exclusive Look Inside the Walmart Ecosystem](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/our-exclusive-look-inside-the-walmart-ecosystem) ![Picture of Maggie](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lunr_bentonville-5.jpg?width=50&name=lunr_bentonville-5.jpg) [Maggie](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/author/maggie) Sep 25, 2025 In early September, we hosted our second annual Emerging Brands Collective in Bentonville,... [Read more](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/our-exclusive-look-inside-the-walmart-ecosystem) [![Blog cover for Lunr Capital's post on what retail buyers look for, featuring Sam Stutzman, former Target buyer.](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Covers-1.jpg?height=200&name=Blog%20Post%20Covers-1.jpg)](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/top-4-things-buyers-look-for-before-bringing-a-new-brand-into-target-walmart-or-costco) [Founder Resources](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/tag/founder-resources), [CPG](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/tag/cpg) ## [Top 4 Things Buyers Look For Before Bringing a New Brand into Target, Walmart, or Costco in 2026](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/top-4-things-buyers-look-for-before-bringing-a-new-brand-into-target-walmart-or-costco) ![Picture of Sam Stutzman](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sam%20Headshot.jpg?width=50&name=Sam%20Headshot.jpg) [Sam Stutzman](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/author/sam-stutzman) Jul 23, 2026 By Sam Stutzman, VP of Business Development at Lunr Capital, former Target buyer Landing a buyer... [Read more](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/top-4-things-buyers-look-for-before-bringing-a-new-brand-into-target-walmart-or-costco) --- [![se3condary horizontal grey](https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hubfs/se3condary%20horizontal%20grey.svg "se3condary horizontal grey")](https://lunrcapital.com) . . © 2023 COPYRIGHT LUNR CAPITAL, INC 212 3RD AVE N. #150 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55401 [HELLO@LUNRCAPITAL.COM](mailto:hello@lunrcapital.com) [LINKEDIN ↗](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lunrcapital/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "The Lunr Team", "url" : "https://blog.lunrcapital.com/author/the-lunr-team" }, "dateModified" : "2025-07-17T20:35:29.093Z", "datePublished" : "2025-07-17T20:35:04.000Z", "headline" : "Walmart’s Biggest Pitch Event for Emerging Brands Is Back", "image" : [ "https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hubfs/Walmart%20open%20call%20blog%20cover.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.lunrcapital.com/walmarts-biggest-pitch-event-for-emerging-brands-is-back", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.lunrcapital.com/hubfs/se3condary%20horizontal%20purp.svg" }, "name" : "Lunr" } } ```