Walmart Reveals NC, VA Cap Ex Plans

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has revealed its investment plans for North Carolina and Virginia in the coming year.

For each state, these include opening three new stores/clubs statewide, creating around 700 new jobs, and multimillion-dollar improvements to more than 18 locations. Additionally, in North Carolina, there are plans to open additional training academies to join the four the mega-retailer recently debuted in the state.

“2017 is going to be an exciting year for Walmart in [these states] as we continue to focus on how to better serve our customers through innovation and investments so they can save both time and money,” the Bentonville, Ark.-based company said. “We’ve had a sharp focus on making our store experience second to none, and our customers are telling us that our plan is working. Our team is energized and we're looking forward to exceeding our customers’ expectations for what a great Walmart shopping experience can be like.”

Last year, in North Carolina, the company rolled out a global shared services center in the Charlotte area, creating more than 1,000 new jobs, with a total investment of $10 million; opened six new stores; remodeled 14 stores across the state, launched its online grocery pickup service, currently serving 38 markets; opened the state’s first training academy; introduced Walmart Pay statewide; and opened a distribution center in Mebane. In 2016, in Virginia, Walmart opened five new stores, creating more than 850 new jobs, remodeled nine stores across the state, opened the state’s first training academy in Virginia, in Dulles; launched its online grocery pickup service, currently serving 23 markets; and launched Walmart Pay statewide.

Walmart currently has 218 retail units and more than 59,000 associates in North Carolina, and 152 retail units more than 44,000 associates in Virginia. Its activities in the states are part of a nationwide strategy to invest more heavily in store remodels, ecommerce, technology and logistics, as evidenced by its recently revealed plans for Florida and Michigan.

Additionally, the company has detailed its milestones in supporting sustainability; local, diverse and small businesses; economic mobility and inclusion; the empowerment of women; hunger relief and disaster relief, as well as its new objectives in those areas, in its 10th annual Global Responsibility Report.