Buffet Appears at Wal-Mart Banquet

Because of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville and Rogers have become the Hollywood of the Ozarks, attracting a parade of business world rock stars and entertainment moguls. The most recent Wall Street royalty to visit was his royal highness Warren Buffet, who was on hand April 23 for Wal-Mart’s annual Supplier of the Year Awards presentation.

Billionaire Buffet is the well-known chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a diversified investment company primarily focused on property and casualty insurance. Berkshire bought McLane Co., Wal-Mart’s wholesale food distriubtion subsidiary, last year for about $1.45 billion.

Vendors in each of the retailer’s merchandise categories are given the coveted awards, so the winners are way too numerous to list.

Word was that Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates was also in attendance, but the folks at Wal-Mart said that part isn’t true.