Walmart Brings Smaller Format to Boston

Walmart Market is part of the big box retailer's plan to develop smaller format stores in urban areas.

July 26, 2011

BOSTON - Walmart is opening its first Walmart Market grocery store in Sommerville, Massachusetts, the Boston Globe reports.

Walmart spokesperson Steve Restivo said the 34,000-square food store should be open within a year and it will operate under the Walmart Market banner.

The mid-size supermarket reflects a new strategy for Walmart, which has begun focusing on smaller store formats to penetrate urban areas.

Meanwhile, Walmart "will be another thorn in the competition,۪۪ said Kevin Griffin, the head of Griffin Publishing, which produces industry market analysis. "Grocery retailing is coming around full circle in this area where we went from neighborhood markets to larger grocery stores to superstores to big-box retailers and, ultimately, the Walmart footprint.۪۪

Griffin said the additional competition would be welcome news for New England shoppers.

"I think the consumer can expect to see the typical grocery store get a reduction in size, and a little better product mix on the interior,۪۪ he said.

Walmart will join Aldi, which recently opened stores in the state, and Wegmans, which also announced plans to enter the Massachusetts grocery scene. According to a study released earlier this year by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, the Bay State ranks near the bottom of states in having a sufficient number of supermarkets offering fresh, nutritious food.

Walmart has 49 big box stores in Massachusetts but none in Boston. It has not disclosed its expansion plans for the state, though company officials said much will depend on the kind of real estate it can find.

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