Walmart seems to have continuous momentum in the marketplace, and it will not be slowing down any time soon.
Walmart President and CEO John Furner announced Wednesday that the retailer is planning to build or convert more than 150 stores over the next five years. In addition, 650 locations will be remodeled across 47 states.
Back in October, Walmart said it was going to spend $9 billion to upgrade and modernize 1,400 stores.
The first two new stores involved in the 2024 initiative announced by Furner are Neighborhood Markets which are set to open later this Spring in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga. Furner said construction plans are being finalized on another 12 projects that will be started this year.
The remodeled stores will reflect Walmart’s Store of the Future concept, which will include:
- Refreshed exteriors and interiors
- A new checkout design based on shopper feedback
- Expanded pharmacies and updated vision centers
- Activated corners to allow shoppers to interact with items
- Digital touchpoints placed throughout the store
- A new dollar shop with seasonally relevant products
- An increase in grab-and-go foods
- Energy-efficient equipment and lighting
- Lower-impact refrigerants
Walmart is also working on developing a coast-to-coast network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations.
More Walmart stores will come with poke bars, too. 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.
“These new and remodeled stores will better enable us to meet and exceed customer expectations whether in a store, online, or through one of our mobile apps,” said Furner.