Walmart is expanding its retail presence by opening new "large" stores and adding electric vehicle charging stations to some of its existing locations.
CNBC stated that the company plans to construct or renovate over 150 large stores in the United States within the next five years. The Associated Press mentioned that Walmart has not opened any new stores in the last three years.
What are the features of a "large-format" Walmart? Walmart has shared press images of its Supercenter design for these planned stores, but they have not disclosed the specific cities where these stores will be located.
Walmart announced that they will be implementing their "Store of the Future" concept in certain locations, featuring more displays and QR codes for customers to scan for more information about products. The company had already been renovating 650 locations to include this concept before making the announcement on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Walmart president and CEO John Furner mentioned that the company's investments in labor, supplies, and tax revenue amount to millions of dollars and have positive impacts on the communities they serve.
CNBC reported that the company chose not to disclose the expenses associated with the stores.
Walmart is planning to incorporate sustainability into its new stores by designing them with energy-efficient lighting and equipment.
Along with their sustainability initiatives inside the store, Walmart is also planning to update their parking lot. They have announced intentions to install fast-charging stations for electric cars.
Walmart is planning to create a nationwide network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations to make it easier for customers and employees to own and use electric vehicles.
According to CNBC, Walmart operates over 4,600 stores in the United States and has a workforce of almost 1.6 million employees.
Check out the initial images of what is being called "The Walmart of the Future." The photo gallery was credited to Rob Carroll.
Check out this list of 50 retail chains that were once popular but have since closed down. Created by Madison Troyer.
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