Walmart tests convenience store concepts

Experimenting with ways to make shopping easier and faster for consumers, Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart recently opened two convenience stores, both in parking lots of Walmart Supercenters — in Rogers, Ark., and Crowley, Texas.

The 2,500-square-foot Texas store, on the outskirts of Dallas, features a walk-in beer cooler, an ICEE machine, a FlavorBlend ice cream machine, hot dogs on a roller, and other ready-to-eat food commonly found in convenience stores, according to an article posted Feb. 16 on DallasNews.com. The product selection includes Market Side branded salads and wraps.

In front of the rectangular building is a covered row of 16 gasoline pumps.

“We’re eager for feedback from customers,” Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield is quoted as saying. “We want to know what’s working.”

Walmart also operates a 5,000-square foot To Go store down the street from its Bentonville headquarters and two 4,000-square-foot stores with gasoline pumps in Huntsville, Ala., and Thornton, Colo. The latter stores have a drive-through feature so customers can pick up online orders.

To read the article, visit http://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2017/02/16/wal-mart-debuts-convenience-store-small-town-texas.