NEW YORK CITY, NY - Walmart has announced plans to redouble its expansion efforts in New York City; the major retailer has outlined plans to open a new Jet.com fulfillment center and introduce same-day and next-day delivery options to the highly competitive urban market.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Walmart plans to open the new facility in the Bronx this fall—contending with retail rivals Target and Amazon who already offer some form of same-day delivery within the city. And while the fulfillment center is currently anticipated to deliver only Jet.com and not Walmart goods, Fox Business speculated that the facility could shift at some point, giving Walmart proper a foothold amidst rival retailers and delivery services in the area—including FreshDirect, Whole Foods, and Instacart.
In a statement emailed to both news sources, Walmart said that Jet.com’s new fulfillment center will be located at 1055 Bronx River Drive and will create hundreds of jobs within the area. Jet.com leased the 200,000-square-foot warehouse this April, prompting speculation that Walmart would eventually introduce delivery options throughout New York City.
The announcement comes just a week after Walmart named a new U.S. Chief Customer Officer and a new Chief Marketing Officer and less than a month after the company announced plans to invest in hiring 2,000 “Technologists” in an effort to boost the company’s e-commerce business.
Will Walmart’s expansion plans succeed in growing its brands and positioning the company for future success in grocery retail? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
