Store growth back on the table at Walmart US, small stores to debut

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/13/2010 3:17:48 PM

Bentonville, Ark. - Walmart US has experimented over the years with various small-format stores, and it is finally ready to begin rolling them out to reach markets it doesn't currently serve.

The company said it will debut 30-40 small format stores in fiscal 2012 as its returns to a more accelerated store-opening pace. The company expects to open 163 new stores and remodels in 2011 followed by 186 to 206 in fiscal 2012. By comparison, Walmart opened 142 in fiscal 2010.

The company will pursue urban and small town markets as well as fill in existing markets.

Of the smaller format stores, Walmart US ceo Bill Simon told analyst's at today's meeting here: "It's a true need in the U.S. We will be building these stores to learn from them."