Walmart opens first Florida training academy in region

PASCO COUNTY — Walmart on Tuesday opened its first Florida training academy at 12610 U.S. Highway 19, Hudson — one of only 200 such centers planned nationwide.

The Arkansas-based discount retailer plans to train 140,000 of its associates in such academies annually. Each academy will be housed in, or adjacent to, a Walmart Supercenter, the company says in a statement.

Store associates and department managers will receive two weeks of dedicated training at the academies, aimed at boosting retail skill sets and improving sales. Associates will train from 25 nearby stores at each academy.

The first week of training will be dedicated to learning retail fundamentals, while the second week will be devoted to sales floor training geared toward specific departments. Employees will learn leadership and merchandising skills, and gain knowledge about technology and customer service.

“Our training academies help provide associates with the skills they need to succeed and advance, while creating a better and more consistent customer experience,” says Corbin Norman, vice president and regional general manager for Walmart in Central Florida.

The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates more than 11,500 stores worldwide and generated in 2016 annual revenue of more than $482 billion. In all, the company has more than two million employees.