Southington Walmart Designated For A Makeover

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Walmart is set to be remodeled this year, officials for the chain said Wednesday.

The theme will be to "improve the existing store footprint, as well as launch and continue to expand several customer-focused innovations," officials said.

"At Walmart, we’re always seeking opportunities to improve, in every facet and on every platform where we serve customers," said Glen Spencer, Walmart's regional manager in Connecticut. "These improvements and innovations will provide Connecticut customers with the enhanced shopping experience they’re looking for in their local store."

Walmart has a store at 235 Queen St. in Southington. It is one of two stores being renovated in the state in 2019, officials said.

Specifics about local store innovations will be announced closer to launch dates. The "customer-focused innovations" featured in most remodeling projects include:

• Grocery Pickup: Walmart’s grocery pickup option allows customers to shop online and then pick up the items at a store without having to leave their cars. Walmart plans to expand the popular program to a pair of Connecticut stores by the end of the year. The company also recently introduced Walmart Voice Order, which allows customers to say. "Hey Google, talk to Walmart" and the Google Assistant will add items directly to a Walmart grocery cart.
• Grocery Delivery: Walmart’s grocery delivery service is being added to two stores in the state in 2019.
• Walmart Pickup Towers: Walmart Pickup Towers are 16-feet tall, high-tech vending machines capable of filling a customer’s online order in less than a minute once they arrive at the store. One state store will get them, officials said.

• FAST Unloader: A new system in Walmart back rooms automatically scans and sorts items that come off trucks based on priority and department, allowing associates to spend less time unloading in the back room and more time on the sales floor with customers. This year, Walmart plans to expand the technology to eight stores across the state.
• Floor Scrubbers: Three stores in the state are slated to get Walmart's autonomous floor scrubber.