Sam's Club opening new store called Mas Club
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's (WMT.N) Sam's Club division is opening a new type of warehouse club aimed at attracting Hispanic shoppers with an expanded selection of products from Mexico.
The club, to be called Mas Club, will be opened in Houston the first half of 2009.
"Our objective is to create an additional shopping choice that provides currently unavailable value for families, restaurant owners, convenience stores and more," said Doug McMillon, president and chief executive of Sam's Club, in a statement.
Customers pay an annual fee to shop in Sam's Club locations, which sell everything from diamond rings and digital cameras to bulk sized packages of paper towels and soda.
Sam's Club has been looking for ways to boost its membership ranks, offering a special deal for college students earlier this year.
Sam's Club said it is designing new signs and a Mas Club logo. It also said that existing Sam's Club members who want to shop at Mas Club will need to purchase a separate membership.
Membership fees for the new club have not yet been determined, it said.
(Reporting by Nicole Maestri)
