Wal-Mart has named Saatchi & Saatchi X its agency of record for shopper, in-store and associate communications.

The move, separate from the retailer's ad agency search, means that Saatchi will direct the array of in-store media that Wal-Mart uses to reach shoppers, including the programming on its in-store TV network. Saatchi will also handle corporate communications with the 1.3 million salespeople Wal-Mart employs, writes MediaPost (via MediaBuyerPlanner).

Saatchi & Saatchi X has been the company's "innovation partner" since 1999, but this is its first appointment as an agency of record.

Last week, Wal-Mart cut the number of agencies in its search from 10 to five. Among those cut was incumbent agency Bernstein-Rein.