Walmart, the US-based discount department stores and hypermarkets chain, is closing three more of its locations by the end of this month.
That brings the total number of store closures this year to 11.
Walmart has long been a go-to for shoppers looking for affordable prices in everything from electronics to household items to groceries.
But with nearly a dozen stores shuttered this year, access for customers is shrinking.
The three stores set to close by late October are in two US states – Georgia and Colorado. Specifically, a store in Marietta and another in Dunwoody in Georgia are being shuttered, along with one in Aurora in Colorado.
Earlier this year, Walmart stopped operating five stores in California, in the cities of El Cajon, Fremont, Granite Bay, San Diego and West Covina. Georgia is now the second-hardest hit state, with two stores closing.
The remaining three store closures this year happened in Towson, Maryland; Columbus, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Walmart reportedly decided to shut the stores it has due to their poor financial performance and theft.
In May, Walmart workers at the locations closing at the time got layoff notices and were offered the choice to transfer to other stores within the company, according to Business Insider.
This year, the company has not only pulled the plug on 11 locations, but also closed 51 of its Walmart Health centers, which were launched in 2019.
‘During our five-year journey, we made meaningful impacts with patients while continuing to learn, pivot and evolve,’ stated Walmart in April.
‘Through our experience managing Walmart Health centers and Walmart Health Virtual Care, we determined there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.’
The company stated that the decision ‘was not easy’ and ‘we understand this change affects lives’.
‘This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that make the care business unsustainable for us at this time,’ it stated.
Walmart serves about 225million customers weekly at its more than 10,500 stores and eCommerce websites in 19 countries, according to its website.
It is far from the only American chain with financial woes.
Late last month, the largest Pizza Hut franchise, EYM Pizza L.P., announced that it was selling all 127 of its remaining stores across five states being bogged down by bankruptcy.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Donald Trump is Putin’s ‘source at the top’ in US, ex-CIA chief says
MORE : Man wins £115,000 on the lottery thanks to a pumpkin
MORE : Death row inmate told to decide how he wants to be executed
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.