Report: Wal-Mart to debut Hispanic supermarket format

Bentonville, Ark. Wal-Mart Stores plans to open its first Hispanic-focused supermarkets this summer in Arizona and Texas, according to the Financial Times.

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, the report said.

The company said that the stores were in "strongly Hispanic neighborhoods" and would feature a "new layout, signing and product assortment designed to make them even more relevant to local Hispanic customers." The staff will also be bilingual, according to the report.

The report also said that Wal-Mart's Sam's Club warehouse store plans to open a 143,000-sq.-ft. Hispanic-focused store called Mas Club in Houston this year.