Demystifying Walmart Supercenters: Size, Selection, Services & More
Walmart Supercenters are giant everything-under-one-roof stores that combine a full grocery store with a general merchandise discount retailer. But unless you‘ve stepped foot in one, you probably have no idea just how super these Supercenters really are.
How Big is the Average Supercenter?
The typical Walmart Supercenter clocks in at a massive 178,000 square feet. To put that into perspective, that‘s nearly 2.5 football fields! And it‘s about 40% larger than the average regular Walmart Discount Store.
Some specialty Supercenters like the 260,000 square foot Albany location are even bigger – almost the size of 4 football fields.
Average Store Sizes:
| Store Type | Avg. Size |
|---|---|
| Regular Walmart | 106,000 sq ft |
| Supercenter | 178,000 sq ft |
With all that space, Supercenters have room for wider aisles, expanded departments, and extra inventory. Shoppers have praised the open layout and ease of navigation compared to cramped regular Walmarts.
Unrivaled Product Selection Under One Roof
A key benefit of the ample square footage is that Supercenters sell both general merchandise AND a full line supermarket under the same roof. From grocery staples to outdoor grill supplies to trendy clothing, you can knock out all your shopping in one convenient trip.
General merchandise categories usually include:
- Apparel and accessories
- Home goods and furnishing
- Electronics, toys, and entertainment items
- Beauty, health, pharmacy, and wellness products
- Sporting goods, automotive accessories, hardware, and more
The supermarket section provides:
- Fresh produce
- Full-service deli
- In-store bakery
- Butcher and seafood departments
- Dairy and frozen foods
- Shelf-stable groceries
- Beverages and spirits
Carrying over 120,000 items across grocery and general merchandise, Supercenters eclipse regular Walmarts‘ product selection by leaps and bounds.
Special Services Offer Added Convenience
With ample space for secondary services, many Supercenters allow you to tackle errands beyond just shopping under one roof.
Over 60% of Supercenters offer amenities like:
- Pharmacy
- Vision center
- Tire and lube express
- Hair and nail salons
- Restaurant eateries
No need to make multiple stops – you can get your tires rotated, glasses adjusted, a fresh meal, and all your weekly essentials in a single efficient trip.
Hours Cater to Any Schedule
Accommodating hectic modern lifestyles, over 95% of 24-hour stores across Walmart‘s US network are Supercenters. Whenever you need to shop – even overnight or early morning – a Supercenter likely has you covered.
Open longer than competing chains, Supercenters‘ round-the-clock accessibility offers unparalleled convenience. Combined with their one-stop shopping and low prices, that convenience gives them an edge over rival retailers.
Supercenters Dominate Store Network & Sales
Since the first location opened in 1988, Supercenters have heavily proliferated while many traditional discount stores have downsized or closed:
- 60% of Walmart‘s ~4,700 US stores are Supercenters
- Supercenters drive over 75% of Walmart‘s $573 billion in global net sales
As the future of one-stop discount shopping for millions of customers, Supercenters are clearly the crown jewels of Walmart‘s empire.
The Bottom Line
While regular Walmarts serve local shoppers on a smaller scale, Walmart Supercenters are built for one-stop convenience on a grand scale. With ample space for endless aisles of merchandise plus full-service groceries and amenities, Supercenters meet virtually any shopping need under one roof.
Offering everyday low prices across an unrivaled range of products and services, Supercenters deliver maximum value to America‘s mass market. It‘s no wonder they‘ve fast become the predominant Walmart shopping experience.
