Walmart to offer prepared meals at its stores

250 Walmart stores now offer ten different meals to hungry shoppers and the retailer plans to expand the service to 2000 locations by the end of 2018. The company will also introduce USD 15 meal-kit options in store, a product that was previously available exclusively online. 

Walmart’s grocery business is threatened by Amazon, who acquired Whole Foods, discounter Aldi and meal-kit provider Blue Apron. Decisions to expand the meal-kit business and to offer prepared meals in its stores can help Walmart ward off competition. 

The move, however, could draw customers away from restaurant chains. Although most retailers offer prepared meals at their stores, Walmart’s late coming to this market could further aggravate the slow growth many restaurant chains have experienced in the last two years (2015-2017).