BENTONVILLE, AR - If you’ve ever wondered how grocery giants like Walmart, Amazon, and more seem to always be one step ahead of the grocery retail market, you’re not alone. The ANUK team was beginning to think retailers just constantly keep their heads on a swivel to stay ahead of the trends. This week, Walmart let slip one of the key strategies it uses to always be moving forward—and it’s pretty unique in the world of retail.

Every year, Walmart aims to fully remodel 500 of its stores around the country. This includes thousands of special projects geared toward updating its brick-and-mortar shopping experience. In a press release, the retail giant revealed how it accomplishes this feat: teams of full-time associates (dubbed SWAT teams) responsible for receiving and assembling store fixtures and moving and setting merchandise.

“The underlying intent for these positions is for them to be a training and development program that helps to put talent back into stores,” said John Clarke, Vice President of Real Estate, disclosing that the positions were temporary before Walmart realized the teams were a strategic way of retaining its workforce while still gunning full speed ahead with its expansions plans.

Since this program’s inception, more than 1,000 associates have been hired to work on 30-people teams in key urban markets. Now, Walmart plans to hire over 400 more remodel associates in 15 markets early next year, with the goal of finishing 100 remodels in 2020.

As Walmart continues to innovate the inner workings of its operations, how will this keep it ahead of the grocery curve? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye out for intriguing movements in the retail space.

Walmart