Retail Discount Behemos Walmart is trying to solidify its position as a favourable shopping oasis for price-sensitive Florida people, and recently announced new statewide store transformations in 34 locations, including some in central Florida.
The Bentonville-based national chain in Ark says it will “reimagining the in-store shopping experience” with bigger signs, better referrals for products, an expansion department, online pickup and delivery services, and greater signs at pharmacies with “new private screening rooms and privacy checkout areas,” as well as “new private screening rooms and privacy checkout areas” for vaccinations and consultations.
Nationally, transformation programs are nothing new. The company says it has spent $1.6 billion on nationwide upgrades since 2023. The program includes the construction of new stores, but in Florida it has been remodeled more than new stores.
One retail analyst showed Walmart is effectively padding investments in Florida’s growth story. With over 23 million people, Florida offers a business-friendly tax environment, making it the country’s third most populous state after California and Texas.
“If you’re a retailer and you’re expanding, Florida will be number one or second in terms of the country’s market for expansion,” said Mark Gilbert, vice-chairman of the commercial real estate company at Cushman & Wakefield. “We have been a big migration recipient since 2020. Retailers see that and they want to be here. If you’re a national retailer, you’re focused on hypers in the Florida market.”
This idea applies not only to Walmart, but also to major rival targets who are building half a dozen new stores around the state, including the Uptown section of Fort Lauderdale at Cypress Creek Station. A spokesman for the Minneapolis-based company said Florida has no plans to build or remodel additional stores beyond what is listed on its website.
For many years, Walmart has crammed multiple stores into Florida, operating a grocery-focused neighborhood market. A super store that carries groceries and everything else. A Sam’s Club, which is only a membership competing with Costco and BJ wholesale clubs. Walmart competes with growth-oriented rival grocery stores such as Aldi, Publix, Sprouts Farmer’s Market and Winn Dixie.
Statewide, Walmart operates 387 retail units and 11 supply chain facilities, employing more than 118,000 people. In addition to South Florida, the company is seeing opportunities in the Florida Panhandle, where it plans to build nearby stores in Milton and Pace.
How low will the price be?
The remodeling program will also challenge Walmart and other retail giants’ ability to keep discounters low, eased by President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign against foreign allies and rivals. In recent weeks, the president told Walmart that instead of handing the costs to customers in the form of higher prices, he should “eat tariffs.”
In an email statement, Nick Berkeley, senior vice president of the company’s Southeast business unit, said the company will work to keep prices as low as possible.
“We’ve always worked to keep prices as low as possible, but it won’t stop,” he said. “We’ll keep the reality of retail margins as low as possible, as possible, the prices are as low as possible.”
When shoppers enter the neighborhood market, they are greeted on a shelf of products with the “Everday Price” label for snacks and drinks sold for more than a dollar.
“Walmart consistently offers additional savings through low prices and rollbacks every day,” Berkeley said when asked to define the pricing period. “We added 500 rollbacks to our grocery business because low prices are the lowest prices in our basket of products and we work hard to keep prices low.
“We advocate for lower prices by being able to pass on the savings to our customers by operating under the low-cost model every day, removing costs and increasing efficiency within Walmart,” he added.
When asked if tariffs could delay or drag plans for expansion, Berkeley said, “There are no current plans to modify new construction or store remodeling schedules.”
During the revenue call on May 21, Target Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell said the company’s merchandising team is “in tirelessly working to mitigate the impact of tariffs.”
“And given the magnitude of the rates we are facing and the high degree of uncertainty about how these rates and the categories affected will evolve, the difficulty is very high,” he said. “As a company aimed at delivering excellent products and outstanding value, we focus on supporting American families in managing our budgets. There are many levers to mitigate the impact of tariffs and prices. This is a last resort. Our strategy is to stay competitive by highlighting our capabilities, long-standing relationships, and many of our many sales peers.”
Mark Gilbert of Cushman & Wakefield said he suspects Walmart or other large retail chains will change their remodeling plans due to tariffs and other external economic factors. He said planning, budgeting and funding will all be over the long term.
“I don’t think the current news or other things in DC will have a major impact on the way Walmart and Target think about expanding and remodeling the store,” he said.
In a year-end revenue call in February, Walmart CEO Douglas McMillion told analysts that the company continues to gain market share “over the country and income levels.”
“We are strengthening our ability to serve people how they want to serve in that moment,” he said. “That’s what drives us growth. Our prices are low and we are becoming more convenient. Our customers are shopping with us.
Central Florida transformation location
Daytona Beach: 1101 Beville Road
Deltona: 1569 Saxon Blvd.
Melbourne: 1001 E. EAU GALLIE BLVD.
Orlando: 11930 Narcoossee Road
Port Orange: 1590 Dunlawton Ave.
