These Smaller Wal-Mart Stores Are The Future Of The Brand

Wal-Mart's sales unexpectedly fell today.

But while overall foot traffic and sales were down, there was one bright spot-Wal-Mart's Neighborhood Market concept.

Sales at the markets were up an impressive 5%.

Wal-Mart has about 400 Neighborhood Markets, compared with more than 3,300 Supercenters, notes Kyle Stock at Bloomberg Businessweek. The average store is about 20% the size of a Supercenter.

Big box stores are becoming irrelevant as Americans downsize and purchase big-ticket items like furniture and televisions online.

Wal-Mart's marketplace concept focuses heavily on fresh produce and groceries. While traditional Wal-Mart stores are situated on large patches of land, the Neighborhood Markets are primarily in urban areas.

Wal-Mart shared some photos of its new concept. Chances are, one will be coming to a neighborhood near you in the future.

Here's a Neighborhood Market in California. Note how the store closely resembles a Whole Foods Market.

Here's a more urban location, in Chicago.

The Neighborhood Market includes ample "healthy" displays.

There's also an emphasis on local and organic produce.

Wal-Mart is expanding the concept to more markets.