Walmart to 'step up' hot food in new Neighborhood Market

Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday is expected to open a new Neighborhood Market store near its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters reflecting “a step up” in the presentation and offering of fresh foods, officials told SN.

Walmart regional general manager Nick Berkeley (right, pictured with market manager Carl Simpson), says Walmart has worked hard to boost hot food offerings in Neighborhood Market stores.

The new store will feature an expansion of fresh in the deli department including a pizza oven; and new offerings in bakery including custom cake decorating, Nick Berkeley, regional general manager for small formats, told SN during a store visit at a nearby Neighborhood Market location last week. Those changes represent a new level of service and choices for the traditionally spartan concept, Berkeley noted.

“We're really happy with this store [which opened in January], but we've added some very special fresh food options [at the new store]. It will be a step up,” Berkeley said. “Over the last 12 months we've done a lot of work on developing a broader hot food offering, including training associates. That area of the store is really important to us.”

Among the new features in the deli is a pizza oven allowing custom pizzas made to order, Berkeley said. “This will be a really good pizza, and at a really good price.”