1 week Ago By Jacob Willeford
A BELOVED retail giant is breaking ground on new stores this year. The fierce Target competitor is making the openings in the coming months part of a long-term expansion plan. It might not surprise some consumers that this retailer is Walmart , which already operates over 4,600 stores in the United States, along with over 600 Sam's Club warehouses.
President and CEO of Walmart U.S. John Furner laid out the half-a-decade-long improvement and growth initiative in January 2024.
"In the next five years, Walmart is planning to build or convert more than 150 stores, while simultaneously continuing our program to remodel existing stores," Furner explained in a news release . The CEO also noted that the new stores would assist the communities in which they would reside, offering jobs and other financial benefits. Read More on Walmart "These efforts represent millions of dollars in capital investment of labor, supplies, and tax revenue, which benefit their respective communities," he continued.
"And they'll help us reach and serve even more customers." Some shoppers are seemingly ready for that added reach in favor of competitors, dubbing it "better than Target," per recent a reel on Facebook. "Walmart has a better layout and merchandise selection than Target does," another echoed in a post on X.
Most read in Money As part of the five-year initiative, Walmart recently confirmed that 10 of the brand new locations would be finished by the end of 2025 toward the 150 target goal, per what a Walmart spokesperson told Business Insider . They are spread across Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, and include Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and a single Sam's Club warehouse. Walmart has not yet provided information for the exact dates the new stores will be open.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Walmart for more details.
While the 10 locations open this year, at least "650 stores across 47 states and Puerto Rico" will undergo remodeling. 117 remodeled locations already re-opened in November. Walmart has confirmed locations of at least 10 new stores opening in 2025 across five states: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tempe, Arizona (Sam's Club) Mountain View, California Eastvale, California Milton, Florida Pace, Florida Cypress, Texas Melissa, Texas Celina, Texas Frisco, Texas Credit: Business Insider Both the remodels and the new locations will have the new "Store of the Future concept" from Walmart.
That includes updated layouts from previous stores with new technology , expanded inventory, and more. ADVANCED OFFERINGS The first location with the "Store of the Future" concept opened in April 2024 and included an interactive concierge service. There was also updated lighting, new signage, and digital maps to help customers navigate the store.
Despite controversy over self-checkout , Walmart also included more of the kiosks in the "Store of the Future" along with a 5,000 square-foot automated warehouse for online delivery and pickup orders. One of the most notable additions to the concept was a new counter area at the front of the store that serves hot meals for shoppers on the go. SALES STRUGGLE Walmart's plans come as it, among other giants including Target, continue to struggle with a variety of economic factors.
High inflation , rising operational costs, and changes in preferences are getting consumers to hold off on spending, as noted by CEO Doug McMillion during an earnings call in March. The retail giant is currently dealing with about a $22 billion dip in its valuation. Share prices also dipped by about 3%.
This was after Amazon surpassed Walmart in quarterly revenue for the first time ever in February. Still, Walmart continues to offer deals to customers to draw them in and spend money this month. Read More on The US Sun A handy vacation essential that's $93 cheaper than at Macy's and perfect for summer travel is flying off shelves, for example.
There's also a five-piece gardening set that's over $100 cheaper at Walmart than Home Depot..
