Walmart open call

4 Certified Veteran's Business Enterprises® Earned the Golden Ticket

Read the Article

Meet the Four Veteran's Business Enterprises®

Selected for Walmart’s Golden Ticket

NaVOBA is proud to celebrate four of our certified Veteran’s Business Enterprises® (VBEs®) who have earned Walmart’s Golden Ticket to pitch at the 2025 Open Call in Bentonville, Arkansas.


Congratulations to:

  • Battle-Tested Foods – Johnathon Ervin
  • KLENR – Chris Thompson
  • International House of Sauces & Seasonings / Charboy's – Pamela A. Jones
  • Battle Tested BBQ Sauce – Michael Otis


This national platform gives Certified Veteran's Business Enterprises® the opportunity to pitch their U.S.-made, grown, or assembled products directly to Walmart’s sourcing team—with the potential to reach store shelves and millions of customers across the country.


Johnathon Ervin

Battle-Tested Foods

DBA Combat Corn

SDVBE®

Chris Thompson

KLENR

SDVBE®

Pamela Jones

International House of Sauces & Seasonings DBA Charboy's

VBE®

Michael Otis

Battle Tested
SDVBE®

Last year, over 13,000 businesses applied and about 1,000 pitched.
Only 30 received a Golden Ticket.

This year, 4 of our VBEs® received a Golden Ticket.

Unmatched Opportunity

Growth & Mentorship

Retail Success

Nationwide Reach

Walmart’s

$350 Billion Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing


Walmart is making a 10-year, $350 billion commitment to sourcing goods made, grown, or assembled in the U.S. This monumental initiative is designed to support American manufacturing and create opportunities for U.S.-based businesses.

Pitch Your Product to


Missed Walmart’s 2025 Open Call? Get early access to the next opportunity—subscribe to the NaVOBA newsletter here.