No Ohio or Pa. stores on Wal-Mart closing list

YOUNGSTOWN

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will close 269 stores in the U.S. and around the world, but no Mahoning Valley stores are on the list.

In October 2015, the company said an active review of the portfolio was underway to ensure assets were aligned with strategy.

The company’s decision on Friday follows a thorough review of Walmart’s nearly 11,600 worldwide stores that took into account a number of factors, including financial performance as well as strategic alignment with long-term plans. In total, the impacted stores represent less than 1 percent of both global square footage and revenue.

The company will close 154 locations in the U.S., including 102 of its smallest format stores, Walmart Express, which had been in pilot since 2011. Walmart instead will focus on strengthening Supercenters, optimizing Neighborhood Markets, growing the e-commerce business and expanding Pickup services for customers.

Also covered in the closures are 23 Neighborhood Markets, 12 Supercenters, seven stores in Puerto Rico, six discount centers, and four Sam’s Clubs.

Ohio and Pennsylvania stores are not on the list to close.