Walmart is phasing out many in-store McDonald’s locations while using fresh sushi bars and expanded prepared foods to reposition its Supercenters and Sam’s Club clubs as higher-quality, next-generation grocery and foodservice destinations.
Key Takeaways
-
Shift from McDonald’s to new food concepts: McDonald’s has closed hundreds of locations, many inside Walmart, and the retailer is backfilling that space with partners like Subway and sushi kiosks to modernize its in‑store dining mix.
-
Sushi as part of next‑gen Supercenters: Walmart’s prototype Supercenter in Jacksonville, Fla., features a fresh sushi bar, grab‑and‑go offerings, and digital touchpoints.
-
Tapping into mainstream sushi demand: With U.S. sushi restaurants numbering in the tens of thousands and grocers like Kroger selling tens of millions of sushi pieces annually, Walmart and Sam’s Club are expanding fresh and private‑label sushi to capture a growing, now-mainstream category.
