By Tara John
In a tactical shift, retailing giant Walmart is closing all 102 of its small-format Walmart Express locations throughout the U.S., the company said Friday.
Fifty-two other U.S. locations and 115 international locations will also be shuttered. The move will impact 16,000 Walmart employees, including 10,000 in the U.S.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told analysts in October that his company would be evaluating its store portfolio in the near future. Ultimately, the tiny Walmart Express locations failed to develop into a significant source of revenue for the company.
Despite the closures, Walmart is planning to open more than 300 stores globally in 2016, with a focus on larger locations in the U.S.
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