Wal-Mart closing local Express

Wal-Mart, which boasts almost 11,600 stores around the world, said the stores on the chopping block “represent less than 1 percent of both global square footage and revenue”.

The world’s largest retailer is closing 269 stores, including 154 in the USA that includes all of its locations under its smallest-format concept store called Wal-Mart Express. The communities living nearby mainly visited this supermarket as there are no other available close to numerous South Baltimore neighbourhood.

Faced with slow-growing sales and the shift to online shopping, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has been pouring money into e-commerce activities and store employee wages, moves that have depressed profits and its share price. Walmart Express stores were something of mashup between a dollar store and a small grocery, offering convenience-oriented food products but not a wide array of fresh produce or meats. Walmart said it’s still sticking to a plan announced last year to open 50 to 60 supercenters, 85 to 95 Neighborhood Markets and 7 to 10 Sam’s Clubs in the USA during the next fiscal year.

Rice says the company hopes the employees losing their jobs at a closing location can be placed in another store.

Where that isn’t possible, the company will provide 60 days of pay and, if eligible, severance, as well as resumé and interview skills training, the release states.

Wal-Mart will continue to operate five other locations across Robeson County, including a Supercenter and two Neighborhood Market stores in Lumberton, a Supercenter in Pembroke and a Neighborhood Market in St. Pauls. All three of Wal-Mart’s existing stores in D.C. are expected to stay open.

It must be kept in mind that the Express format stores are actually miniscule compared to massive Wlamart stores and were part of the pilot testing launched in the year 2011.

The closings are set to affect about 10,000 people in the United States and 6,000 overseas.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” said Glenda Hammontree, 61, who said she makes the 5-minute drive to the store several times a week.

About 10,000 Walmart employees will be impacted by the cuts.

Walmart’s store closures come as the retail behemoth is making big investments to remake itself for the digital era. FULL LIST: Walmart closing 269 stores in USA and Brazil ” This in is the busiest one.