Wal-Mart To Open 140 Stores In 1998

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Tuesday an ambitious growth plan to open at least 140 new stores next year, expanding its already mammoth retailing empire.

Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, also reported a rise in sales for September, but its results were on the low end of some retail analysts’ estimates for the month.

In the United States, Wal-Mart plans to open 50 new discount stores, 10 Sam’s Clubs and 120 to 125 Supercenters. About 90 of the new Supercenters, which include a discount store and a supermarket, will come from relocating or expanding existing stores.

Wal-Mart also plans to open 50 to 60 new stores abroad, with sites planned for Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

In addition, Wal-Mart will open one regional general merchandise and two food distribution centers next year.

As of Sept. 30, the Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart had 1,922 Wal-Mart stores, 407 Supercenters, 442 Sam’s Clubs and 564 international units.

For September, Wal-Mart said sales from stores open at least a year rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier, while total sales were up 11.8 percent.