Retail giant Walmart is getting into the facilities management business. The company has launched Upstream Facility Services, a new business that will offer the retailer’s in-house maintenance expertise to other companies nationwide.
Leveraging the systems and scale that support thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, Upstream is designed for companies managing complex facility operations, especially those operating across multiple locations. The new venture currently focuses on HVAC, refrigeration, general maintenance, electrical, and plumbing trades.
“We’ve spent years building one of the largest in-house facility service operations in the country,” said R.J. Zanes, VP of Walmart Facility Services. “Upstream takes that capability beyond our walls, combining national scale, skilled technicians, and real-time visibility to help businesses run with fewer disruptions.”
With Walmart-trained technicians positioned across the country, Upstream is built to serve clients across markets with consistent support, according to the retailer. Upstream’s maintenance model combines urgent repairs, preventive maintenance, and predictive service. Walmart added that the new business will also use technology to help clients gain real-time visibility into services across locations, from job status to performance trends, enabling faster decisions, better planning, and more consistent execution at scale.
Upstream will compete against other major third-party facilities management providers like CBRE, JLL, ABM, and Cushman & Wakefield, among others.
Walmart’s full announcement is available here.
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