Walmart Tests In-Store Sushi Bars In Florida Supercenter

The retail giant is expanding its prepared food offerings to compete with regional grocers.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Walmart is testing an in-store sushi bar concept at its newly opened Supercenter in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of the company's next-generation store format. The move is aimed at expanding Walmart's prepared food offerings to better compete with regional grocery chains known for their fresh options. However, the announcement has sparked a wave of online skepticism and memes from shoppers who are unsure about the quality of sushi from a big-box retailer.

Why it matters

Walmart's sushi bar experiment is part of the company's broader strategy to upgrade its grocery offerings and better compete with regional supermarkets that have built loyal followings around fresh, prepared foods. As consumer preferences shift, major retailers like Walmart are looking for ways to differentiate their grocery sections and provide a more elevated in-store experience.

The details

The new sushi bar is being tested at Walmart's recently opened Supercenter in Jacksonville, Florida, which the company is using as a test site for its next-generation store format. In addition to the sushi bar, the redesigned store features a bakery, deli, and other enhanced grocery offerings. While Walmart already sells pre-packaged sushi in many locations, the dedicated sushi bar represents a more ambitious move to court customers seeking fresher prepared food options.

  • Walmart opened the new Supercenter in Jacksonville, Florida in February 2026.
  • The sushi bar is part of the store's 'next-generation' redesign.

The players

Walmart

A major American retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarket, discount department store, and grocery store formats.

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What’s next

Walmart plans to closely monitor customer reaction and sales performance at the Jacksonville Supercenter to determine if the sushi bar concept should be expanded to additional locations.

The takeaway

Walmart's foray into in-store sushi bars highlights the company's efforts to evolve its grocery offerings and better compete with regional supermarkets that have built reputations around fresh, prepared foods. However, the announcement has sparked significant online skepticism, underscoring the challenge Walmart faces in convincing customers to trust the quality of sushi from a big-box retailer.