Walmart is expanding by adding more stores and enhancing some of their current locations. They are also planning to install electric vehicle charging stations.
CNBC announced that the company plans to construct or transform over 150 "big-box" stores throughout the United States within the next five years. The Associated Press stated that Walmart has not opened any new stores in the last three years.
Walmart has unveiled images of its Supercenter design for its upcoming "large-format" stores. The company has not disclosed the specific cities where these stores will be located.
Walmart announced that they will be implementing their new "Store of the Future" concept in certain locations. This concept includes more displays and QR codes for customers to scan for more information about products. Before this announcement, Walmart was already in the process of remodeling 650 locations to include this concept.
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, benefiting the communities where they operate.
CNBC reported that the company chose not to disclose the expenses associated with the stores.
Walmart has announced that their new stores will prioritize sustainability in their design. This will include the use of energy-efficient lighting and equipment throughout the locations.
Aside from focusing on sustainability initiatives within its stores, Walmart is also planning to revamp its parking lot. The company announced intentions to install fast-charging stations for electric cars.
Walmart is working on creating a nationwide network of affordable electric vehicle charging stations to make it easier and more convenient for Walmart customers and employees to own and use electric vehicles.
According to CNBC, Walmart has over 4,600 stores in the United States and has a workforce of almost 1.6 million employees.
Check out these initial images of what the future of Walmart could look like. Photos credit to Rob Carroll.
Check out this list of 50 retail chains that were once popular but have now closed down. Credit for the gallery goes to Madison Troyer.
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