The world’s largest retailer, known for its hypermarkets, is expanding in China as shopping with mobile devices gains popularity in the country, and as retailers and technology companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd cut deals to integrate online and offline shopping.
Walmart is also targeting more online shoppers, who spend twice as much in the United States when buying on its website.
Walmart had run smaller Walmart Express stores in the United States, with 12,000 to 15,000 square feet, compared with about 105,000 square feet for its typical supermarket. But the concept did not take off and the retailer was forced to shut them down in 2016.
Walmart did not specify the size of the China store, in the southern city of Shenzhen. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
