Walmart says it will add more than 150 stores while continuing to modernize existing ones.
The retail giant, which directly employs about 1.6 million people in the U.S., plans to construct or convert more than 150 stores over the next five years, according to a news release. Over the coming year, Walmart says it will aim to remodel 650 stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico, generating tens of thousands of jobs linked to these projects in addition to employment opportunities created with each new store.
The first two stores under the expansion initiative, both Neighborhood Markets, are scheduled to open later this spring in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and Atlanta, according to the release. Construction plans for 12 additional projects set to commence this year, along with the conversion of a smaller location into a Walmart Supercenter, are in the finalization stages, the company said.
Aligned with Walmart's Store of the Future concept, the new and remodeled stores will feature enhanced layouts, expanded product selections and technology aimed at facilitating associates in better supporting customers and enhancing the shopping experience, the release said.
Sustainability is a key consideration, with features such as energy-efficient equipment and lighting, lower-impact refrigerants and the development of a coast-to-coast network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations to encourage EV ownership among Walmart shoppers and associates, according to the release.
Walmart says the upgraded stores are poised to better meet and surpass customer expectations, whether in-store, online at Walmart.com or through mobile apps.
The company said the expansion and remodel endeavors translate into substantial capital investments, encompassing labor, supplies and tax revenue, all of which contribute to the prosperity of their respective communities while expanding their reach to serve more customers.