NEW YORK, Oct 30 (Reuters) – U.S. retail chain Walmart (WMT.N) said on Monday it will revamp some of its U.S. stores, including improving layouts, expanding assortments and introducing new products. announced that it will invest more than $9 billion over two years. Technical additions.
Walmart said in a statement that 117 stores in 30 states will reopen on Friday displaying the enhancements, which represent an investment of more than $500 million. The plan is to modernize a total of more than 1,400 of the 4,717 Walmart stores nationwide. The renovations do not apply to the Sam’s Club warehouse club chain, a spokesperson said.
“These construction investments will create additional local jobs and help our employees get what customers want, when they want it,” said John Farner, CEO of Walmart’s U.S. operations. Ta.
Walmart’s low-cost, low-margin groceries have become a big draw for Americans dealing with steep inflation in the prices of foods including eggs, protein and chocolate over the past two years. In 2022, the company’s sales will exceed $600 billion, a record high.
The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer now wants to change its image from just a discount store to a destination where customers can also buy fashionable home goods and clothing.
As part of that effort, the company tested a renovated concept store called “Store of the Future” in several Walmart supercenters, including one in Teterboro, New Jersey, earlier this year. Executives have previously said the concept has been a success, increasing same-store sales by several percentage points and, in Teterboro’s case, as much as 20%.
A Walmart spokesperson said Monday’s investment marks the nationwide rollout of the concept.
The company says the enhanced stores will feature refreshed interiors and exteriors, including new paint, updated flooring, updated restrooms, LED lighting, and new signage that is brighter and easier to navigate through the store.
There will also be more checkout options, including manned lanes and self-checkout areas, and more grab-and-go food and beverage options in grocery store areas.
The store will also feature a dedicated examination room for pharmacist consultation and services, as well as a large pharmacy equipped with digital screens and QR codes that provide information about the services Walmart offers online, the company said in a statement. Stated.
Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York.Editing: Bill Berkrot
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