Walmart India takes ex-employee to court for stealing sensitive information

By

Maverick Martins

Published
Mar 1, 2018

Walmart India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Stores Inc has sought legal action against its former employee for stealing sensitive and confidential information regarding the plans of the organisation in India.
 

Walmart India is looking to expand its base in the country to cash in on the growing market and identified 20 new locations to set up 70 stores by 2022.
 
The company has accused its former deputy general manager of merchandising Meenakshi Sharma of wrongful possession of data pertaining to members of Walmart’s Best Price stores, a wholesale chain that has kiranas, hotels, restaurants and other businesses as members, the Economic Times reported citing anonymous source familiar with the matter.

Walmart was expected to open 5-7 stores next year and add another 8-10 in the subsequent year. In the state of Maharashtra alone Walmart was supposed to add 15 Cash & Carry stores with an investment of Rs 900 crore (approx $ 138 million) under the brand of Best Price.
 
The company now fears that sensitive information with regards to their expansion plan may be leaked out to rival Siam Makro of Thailand the new employers of Sharma. Sharma’s new employers are expected to invest Rs 1,000 crore (approx $ 153.5 million) to establish a chain of cash-and-carry outlets in India.
 
Walmart India currently owns and operates 21 Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in 9 States across India and has integrated omni-channel in all stores.