Walmart Inc. has opened a million-square-foot distribution center in Jacksonville, FL, to serve Sam’s Club locations at a time when the warehouse club chain is looking to support a renewed growth plan.
At Walmart’s recently held 2025 Investment Community Meeting, Sam’s Club President and CEO Chris Nicholas outlined growth plans for the warehouse club based on strengthening the membership component, expanding physical and digital capabilities and delivering an elevated customer experience.
As announced in January 2023, Sam’s is in the process of developing 30 new locations as it returns to store growth after shuttering 60 clubs in a 2018 rationalization initiative. Although the company has retained a a goal of 30 new club locations, Walmart has not set a timeframe for the Sam’s openings. Rather, at the community meeting, Walmart noted it has been building a pipeline that would allow the company to deliver 15 new clubs each year. Walmart also plans to remodel some 600 of its existing clubs, with the recently reopened Grapevine, TX, location established as the standard for future Sam’s operations.
Sam’s will leverage Walmart’s enterprise fulfillment network and technology platforms to build a national e-commerce presence that will enable membership growth beyond its physical club footprint. Investments in Sam’s digital tools including Scan & Go, Just Go exit technology and personalized AI-driven advertising are helping the operation improve the member experience and remove shopping friction. Walmart reported recent enhancements to Sam’s Club e-commerce operations, including free shipping for Plus members and free curbside pickup for Club members, have contributed to record-setting digital penetration and first-year renewal rates. Walmart said it intends to double Sam’s membership and more than double the division’s sales and profit over the next 8 to 10 years.
“This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today,” Nicholas said. “We’re investing with intention in our fleet, our associates and the member experience to become the world’s best club retailer.”
The Jacksonville distribution facility receives and processes items for delivery to 18 Sam’s Club locations across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as seven clubs in Puerto Rico. Located 10 minutes from the Port of Jacksonville, the DC also stores and sorts imported goods for delivery to four distribution centers across the Southeast.
