Wal-Mart plans to open its first Hispanic-focused supermarkets this summer in Arizona and Texas. The pilot stores, named Supermercado de Walmart, will open in Phoenix and Houston in remodeled 39,000 sq ft locations occupied previously by two of Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market stores, reports The Financial Times. Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club warehouse store also plans to open a 143,000 sq ft Hispanic-focused store called Más Club in Houston this year.
Several leading regional US supermarket chains already operate Hispanic store brands, including Publix in Florida, which operates three Publix Sabor markets, and HEB in Texas, which opened a Mi Tienda store in Houston in 2006.
The markets include elements such as cafés serving Latino pastries and coffee, and full service meat and fish counters. Leading retailers are also pursuing Hispanic consumers online, with Best Buy and Home Depot having launched Spanish-language versions of their e-commerce sites in recent months, said the story.
