Walmart to rebrand Express format

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart on Tuesday stated it will rebrand its small Express grocery format to the Walmart Neighborhood Market, according to published reports. 

 

All future Express stores, which average around 12,000 sq. ft., will open under the Neighborhood Market banner. The 21 existing Express stores will be rebranded. 

 

The reason behind the name change is that consumers use both formats for the same purpose — in-and-out shops, fill-in trips and prescription refills. Both formats have more grocery items with limited general merchandise, fuel and pharmacy.

 

In February Walmart announced plans to increase its capital investment in smaller formats from 120 to 150 new stores for the fiscal year to between 270 and 300.  Fresh food- and pharmacy-driven comp sales across its Neighborhood Market banner, which is larger at 38,000 square feet, was the impetus behind that decision.