Walmart enhances appeal to shoppers, sellers with store and supply chain upgrades

The news: Walmart announced a host of initiatives, ranging from a cashierless Sam’s Club store to new pet centers to warehouse automation, as it looks to boost the customer experience, encourage shoppers to spend more (and visit more often), and enhance its supply-chain capabilities.

Store of the future: While the checkout-free experience is so far limited to a single Sam’s Club store located in Grapevine, Texas, it speaks to the retailer’s broader ambitions to compete more effectively against Costco and Amazon, as well as show off its tech capabilities.

• Sam’s Club plans to use the revamped location as a testing ground for new features and emerging technology, such as a pizza robot capable of slinging as many as 100 pies per hour—in addition to the scaled-up use of its Scan & Go app, which will be the sole purchase method available in-store.