Sam's Club expanding stores nationwide with all-digital approach, aimed at increasing membership

From CNBC: 2025-04-09 10:37:00

Sam’s Club is opening a store in the Dallas area that will require customers to go all digital. Shoppers will use a smartphone app to scan and pay for their own purchases rather than standing in a checkout lane. The warehouse club plans to open about 15 new stores per year and remodel all 600 locations across the country, aiming to double membership over the next eight-to-10 years. Despite economic uncertainty from tariffs, Sam’s Club is confident that demand will hold up, with a focus on saving customers money. Warehouse clubs like Costco and BJ’s Wholesale are also expanding as consumers seek value and larger quantities of items. Costco plans to open 28 new clubs this fiscal year, while BJ’s plans to open 25 to 30 new locations over the next two fiscal years. Sam’s Club began its recent expansion by rolling out a club with an all-digital approach to retail in Grapevine, Texas. The store format will be taken nationwide as the company remodels and opens new clubs, with three new clubs already opened this fiscal year. Sam’s Club reported strong sales growth, with net sales totaling $90.2 billion in the most recent fiscal year, representing a 53% jump from the pre-pandemic fiscal year. Comparable sales rose 5.9% year over year, excluding fuel, with e-commerce sales increasing by 24%. Membership income also rose 13% in the fiscal fourth quarter, as the company invests in renovations and new clubs to sustain growth. Walmart, the parent company of Sam’s Club, plans to spend between $20.24 billion and $23.61 billion on capital expenditures this fiscal year, including supply chain technology, store remodels, and new clubs.



Read more at CNBC: Sam’s Club to expand stores amid Costco, BJ’s competition