Last Friday, Walmart had the largest single-day rollout of grand re-openings in the company’s history at 117 stores nationwide.

The grand re-opening projects represent more than $0.5bn in capital investments in local communities across 30 states. Employees and customers were welcomed into the improved Supercenters and neighbourhood markets with ceremonies, ribbon cuttings and family-friendly activities to commemorate the occasion.

“We’re investing more than $9bn over a two-year period to upgrade and modernise more than 1400 of our stores across the USA,” said John Furner, chief executive officer of Walmart. “With nearly 90 per cent of the US population living within ten miles [16km] of a Walmart, we understand how important our local stores are to customers and communities, and these construction investments allow us to create more local jobs and make it easier for our associates to get customers what they want, when they want it.”

Each store’s reopening is part of Walmart’s Signature Experience, which seeks to inspire customers and provide them with a seamless, high-quality shopping experience. Upgraded features include improved layouts, expanded product selections and technology that allows Walmart staff to support customers better and make shopping more convenient and enjoyable.

The stores have been painted and have updated flooring throughout, modernised toilets, and fixtures and LED lighting for better and brighter lines of sight.

Signage allows for easier navigation while shopping in store and using the Walmart App. There are also more shopping carts in each store.

Increased check-out options include staffed lanes and self-checkout areas. Larger online grocery pickup and deliver areas accommodate growing demand and serve more customers shopping online.

Grab-and-go sections are being added to grocery areas for quick meal and drink options.

Displays at the corners of certain departments pull customers in and help them touch, feel and become a part of the space. There are also displays showing products out of their boxes, so shoppers can visualise fitting them into their daily lives.

Digital touchpoints throughout the store help communicate the range of products and services offered online through QR codes and digital screens. For example, in Walmart’s Pets area, shoppers can scan the QR code to find additional dog bed options, learn about Walmart’s pet insurance service options or have a bag of kibble delivered to their door.

For easier customer access, many pharmacies have been moved to the front of the store and have been expanded to allow for private screening rooms for pharmacist consultations and services.

Other additions include an updated customer service area, rooms for nursing mothers, vision centre with an assortment of eyeglasses and sunglasses with prescription lenses, and dollar shops at store entrances with seasonally relevant products.

Walmart+ is a membership programme designed to save members time and money on their everyday essentials and more. That means giving members access to benefits such as free delivery from the store, free shipping with no minimum order, a Paramount+ Essential subscription, mobile scan and go, member pricing on fuel, ability to earn Walmart Rewards and early access to deals. Walmart+ costs $98 per year and includes a 30-day free trial period.

Walmart’s pickup option provides the convenience of online shopping and allows people to collect their groceries without stepping out of their vehicles. Walmart has made both pickup and delivery contact free.

Walmart Pay is a touch-free way to pay.

“In all my time at Walmart, the pace of change has never been faster, driving innovation and expecting evolution,” said Hunter Hart, senior vice president at Walmart (corporate.walmart.com). “Each store is designed to deliver a more modern shopping experience and improve the lives of our associates and customers from the moment they step into the new space.”