BENTONVILLE, AR - Wal-Mart is testing a brand new concept store; a drive-through.  And yes folks, this includes produce.  The 15,000 square-foot facility will house 10,000 fresh and dry grocery products from cereal, chips and bread to fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and milk, according to thecitywire.com.

“We know at Wal-Mart our customers’ needs are changing. They want and need more shopping options and we have the means to give them low prices, wide assortments along with value and convenience in a seamless shopping experience,” noted Deisha Barnett, corporate spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 

The concept will allow customers to order their groceries online and schedule a time to pick them up.  The building will have drive-up windows so customers will never need to get out of their cars, according to KTHV.  In May, the city of Bentonville gave Wal-Mart the approval to begin building its first drive-through only location.

The new concept is one of several tests the retailer is conducting from storage lockers in metro Washington D.C., Walmart to Go pick-up and home delivery in Denver and San Jose, Calif., and the new convenience store located up the road from this new drive-through location. These new concepts are designed to provide convenience and are in no way meant to replace traditional stock-up trips that Wal-Mart’s supercenters provide. Those trips are valued annually at $585 billion and remain about 60% of the total grocery spend, according to Bill Simon, CEO of the company.

As of now, there is no word on when the test store will open or what the service will cost.  Personally, I still enjoy my in-store grocery strolls, but with today's fast-paced environment, who doesn't love a little convenience.  

Wal-Mart