This isn't really new for Walmart. Their thing has long been to use their market position as something of a monopsonist to extract concessions from suppliers. Give us these things packaged differently, and for 7% less, and make some of them Walmart exclusives (you're not selling Target the same thing, are you??), or we won't sell your stuff anymore.
That is the only play it has ever had... It has bullied its suppliers since almost day 1, Certainly since Sam Walton died...
This is just an expansion of the bully tactics to other areas of the business beyond the Buyers, but it is not a new tactic. They used this tactic to great success to kill off a lot of competition in the Brick/Mortor Retail space.
Even with them historically always bullying businesses, this and the other recent stories certainly do feel like Walmart is acting like they have already lost to Amazon. I was hoping Walmart would get better in their fight against Amazon. Naive me hah!
At least they are letting Lore handle online business for now.