Through its partnership with Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar, which was announced last August, Walmart will start offering more fast-food poke bars inside stores in 2024.
Ten poke bars with a new modern look will open at Walmart locations in California over the next five months, and there are plans for three inside Walmart stores in Utah.
Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar has more than a dozen locations in California, Utah, Hawaii, and Texas, and there are already three positioned inside Walmart stores in California.
The bars feature poke bowls with seafood and fully cooked options. Vegetarian poke bowls are also available. The first in-store bar was opened in a Walmart in Vacaville, Calif., in early October.
Walmart is no stranger to carrying fast-food restaurants in stores. McDonald’s, Subway, Charleys Philly Steaks, Domino’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s have also partnered with the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer.
Late in 2023, Walmart announced it was spending more than $9 billion to upgrade and modernize 1,400 stores.
The retailer said it no longer wants to be known as just a deep discounter, but instead wants the image of an all-purpose behemoth where shoppers can turn to for things other than grocery, according to the company.