Walmart is testing “valuable changes” in the Southeast, with two new Neighborhood Markets opening in the Dune Lakes area of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and in the Vine City neighborhood of Atlanta.
Walmart has committed to “opening or converting more than 150 stores in the next five years – with the Neighborhood Market set to benefit,” said Kyle Kinnard, SVP of Neighborhood Markets. These two stores are the first to open under the new initiative, first announced in February.
The two stores have 57,000 square feet of sales floor and pickup and delivery space, which is about 17,000 square feet larger than average Neighborhood Markets. “The expanded space will allow us to sharpen our focus on value, speed and convenience,” Kinnard said.
The retailer hopes that by expanding the store’s layout, Walmart will be able to offer a larger assortment across the entire store. Kinnard points out that customers will notice the biggest gains in its fresh departments, with expanded options in bakery, produce, deli, meat and dairy. The two stores will also feature wider aisles, providing a larger space for customers to shop in and to make navigation easier.
Walmart has also provided more space for pickup and delivery orders in these updated stores, such as offering a dedicated room for refrigerated goods. The retailer has added a health services room to its pharmacies and a Mother’s Room to allow nursing moms to shop while caring for young children.
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“As we remodel, convert and build new stores, we are being thoughtful about how to make our Neighborhood Markets right-sized for each community,” Kinnard shared. “We continually evaluate all our stores to make sure they have the right assortment and services to match our customers’ expectations.”
