US retail giant Wal-Mart today (8 June) confirmed that it does not have any plans to accelerate the expansion of its smaller format Marketside test stores.
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“We’re satisfied with the performance of the Marketside test format, but have no plans to accelerate its rollout,” a spokesperson for the group confirmed.
“Given the economic situation, we believe this is a prudent approach.”
Last October, Wal-Mart launched its Marketside chain, which is made up of stores that are around 15,000 square feet in size, in the Phoenix area.
The launch came in response to the entry of UK retailer Tesco in the US, which opened its first Fresh & Easy smaller format stores at the end of 2007.
Tesco has also confirmed that it is slowing the pace of its expansion in the US in response to economic conditions.
