“No retailer, supplier, or policymaker can solve food waste and supply chain sustainability alone. We need to work together to align on best practices in order to drive real change.”

As one of the largest food retailers in the world, Walmart plays a critical role in shaping global food supply chains. With this scale comes both an opportunity and a responsibility to influence sustainable sourcing, supplier partnerships, and waste reduction. While food waste remains a systemic challenge across the industry, Walmart has focused efforts on building resilient supply chains, reducing inefficiencies, and leveraging technology to optimise sourcing.

Seth Malley, Senior Vice President of Food Sourcing at Walmart, has spent nearly 19 years at the company, progressing from an intern in the seasonal candy department to leading global food procurement. With a background rooted in agriculture—growing up on a family farm—he brings both strategic oversight and first-hand experience to the complexities of food sourcing at scale.

In this conversation, Seth shares insights into Walmart’s approach to innovative and sustainable sourcing, and supplier engagement, while also reflecting on how the retail giant is addressing the broader industry challenge of food waste through the lens of 21st-century leadership.

A Career Shaped by Retail and Agriculture

Seth’s career at Walmart has been shaped by a passion for food and supply chain innovation. Growing up in Bentonville, Arkansas, where Walmart is headquartered, he was always aware of the company’s influence. After earning a business degree, he joined Walmart as an intern, quickly falling in love with retail and the fast-paced decision-making it required.

His early career involved roles in candy, frozen foods, and beverages, where he navigated sourcing, merchandising, and supply chain management—including leading Walmart’s beverage division through the logistical disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This work to maintain our global strategy is important, and you don’t wake up the next day and suddenly become a completely different person to take this on,” Seth reflects on his transition into global sourcing. “for me it’s about staying focused on having the right people, and delivering on the culture Walmart has engrained in me to execute on big, ambitious goals.”

Walmart’s Approach to Food Sourcing: Balancing Trust, Resilience, and Value

When asked about Walmart’s approach to food sourcing, Seth explained that their strategy is shaped by three key pillars: trust, resilience, and value. With operations in 14 countries, he emphasised the importance of ensuring consistent product availability, quality, and affordability while navigating the complexities of a global supply chain.

“We aim to build trust with consumers by providing high-quality, responsibly sourced products that align with sustainable agricultural practices,” Seth said. At the same time, he highlighted the need for resilience in supply chains, describing how Walmart works closely with a diverse network of suppliers to manage disruptions and maintain steady product availability. The third pillar, value, remains central to Walmart’s operations, with Seth explaining that the company leverages its scale and efficiencies to keep prices competitive while delivering on customer expectations.

Seth underscored that these efforts are part of an evolving strategy, shaped by shifting consumer expectations and industry challenges, with Walmart continuously adapting to maintain a reliable and cost-effective food supply. 

Food Waste and Whole-Crop Utilisation

Food waste can be a challenge across the retail industry. While Walmart has long-standing commitments to regeneration and supply chain efficiency, Seth highlights whole-crop utilisation as a unique way to reduce upstream waste.

“A lot of food waste can be reduced from buying the whole crops,” he explains. “We have been looking into this more to work directly with farmers to ensure that even the small, mis-shapen, or imperfect produce has a home—whether it’s in fresh retail, frozen, or processed foods, like jam.”

A tangible example of this approach comes from what Walmart is doing in their strawberry supply chain in California, taking produce too small or slightly off-colour and working with suppliers to redirect these strawberries into jam production, reducing food loss while creating additional revenue streams for farmers.

“It’s about seeing the bigger picture across the industry and building partnerships that connect different parts of the food system,” Seth adds.

Leveraging Technology for Smarter Sourcing

Seth emphasises that emerging technology is transforming agriculture and food sourcing. Walmart is leveraging AI-powered prediction tools to help farmers optimise their yields, manage climate risks, and improve efficiency.

“We now have tools that can predict weather events, analyse soil productivity, and even recommend the best harvest times to reduce spoilage,” he explains. “These innovations have the power to revolutionise food availability over the next five to ten years.”

Walmart is also a leading force behind Project Gigaton, an industry-wide initiative providing suppliers with resources, data, and best practices to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance supply chain sustainability. This initiative aims to “avoid one billion metric tons (a gigaton) of greenhouse gases from the global value chain by 2030, and the company achieved this goal 6 years early in 2024”. By tackling emissions at an early production stage, the company hopes to reach zero emissions on energy use, nature, waste, packaging, transportation, and product use and design.

Collaboration Across the Supply Chain

Seth underscores that real sustainability progress requires collaboration. Walmart engages suppliers, NGOs, and governments to create scalable impact beyond its own operations.

“No retailer, supplier, or policymaker can solve food waste and supply chain sustainability alone. It requires us all to work together to align on best practices to drive real change,” he says.

As part of Walmart’s global sourcing teams, Seth and his colleagues also work closely with their suppliers traveling around the world , understanding local farming conditions and fostering long-term relationships. Whether harvesting rice in India, nectarines in Chile, or olive oil in Spain, these on-the-ground relationships build trust and enhance supply chain transparency.

The Future of Food Sourcing

Looking ahead, Seth sees two major trends reshaping the food industry in the coming years: the increasing role of artificial intelligence in food production and the growing consumer demand for transparency. AI-powered predictive analytics are rapidly advancing how farmers and suppliers make decisions, enabling them to adapt to climate variability, optimise yields, and enhance logistical efficiency. These technologies are equipping producers with real-time insights on everything from ideal harvest times to soil productivity analysis, helping to minimise food waste and improve supply chain resilience.

At the same time, consumers are becoming more conscious of where their food comes from, prompting retailers to prioritise traceability and ethical sourcing. As Seth explains, “The world is getting smaller. Trends go global in 24 hours, and people expect more variety, better quality, and deeper transparency in their food choices.” This shift is driving investments in supply chain visibility, motivating companies to ensure that customers have greater insight into the origins and sustainability of their purchases.

Final Thoughts: Change is Inevitable

For those who believe that change isn’t possible, Seth offers a perspective rooted in Walmart’s culture: “To succeed in this world, you have to change all the time. And if you don’t, you’ll get left behind.”

He emphasises that embracing change is not just about staying relevant, but about leading with purpose. “Customers are evolving. Supply chains are evolving. Sustainability challenges are evolving. If we don’t innovate, we fall behind. That’s what keeps us moving forward.”

As Walmart continues its journey toward regenerative food sourcing, Seth and his team are working to align efficiency, affordability, and environmental responsibility in a way that benefits both consumers and the planet.

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This is part of our ChangeLeaders interview series with impact leaders sharing their journeys, learnings, and lessons. If you are a ChangeLeader we should interview, please email us at info@wemakechange.org.

Interview & Article: James Sancto & Laura De Alba