“Walmart remains committed to growing its B2B Cash & Carry business in India,” Mr Iyer said in an emailed statement. He also said the company keeps looking for ways to operate more effectively.

All the 56 associates have been offered enhanced severance benefits and outplacement services to support their transition, Mr Iyer added.

Walmart has recently made significant investments in its brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce.

"We are thus investing heavily in technology and have a healthy pipeline of Best Price stores," said Mr Iyer.

Walmart has opened six new Best Price wholesale stores and one fulfillment centre in India, and its sales grew 22 per cent in 2019, he added.

The layoffs in its India operations come at a time when the US-based retail major has faced fierce competition in the country's retail market, where tight regulations are aimed at protecting local kirana stores from foreign players. (Also read: Walmart, Flipkart Jointly Invest In Ninjacart Startup)

US-based e-commerce giant Amazon and the retail arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries are eyeing the huge opportunity in the country's retail market. Reliance Retail has announced plans to roll out its e-commerce venture.

Prevented from selling directly to consumers, US-based Walmart has focused on building a wholesale business that supplies to local store-owners.

Walmart termed as “baseless and false” claims that it has withdrawn plans to expand its wholesale business and double the number of wholesale outlets in the next four years were withdrawn. The retailer supplies goods to kirana stores through its wholesale business.