The trend: Sam’s Club is thriving in China as its focus on wealthier households, selection of unique and premium products, and competitive pricing enable it to evade the country’s broader retail malaise.
By the numbers: While Walmart doesn’t break out sales for Sam’s Club in the region, the warehouse unit appears to be driving the retailer’s China sales, which jumped 21.8% YoY in Q3 2025.
- Sam’s Club transactions rose by double digits in Q3, according to Walmart’s most recent earnings presentation.
- While Sam’s Club opened 10 stores in 2025 and has more in the pipeline, Walmart China has reduced its superstore count by nearly one-third since 2020—suggesting the company is reallocating resources toward the warehouse model.
The implications: Sam’s Club’s success in China is important for two reasons.
First, it shows retailers that growth remains possible in the country despite the challenging market conditions—provided they focus on delivering products and experiences that align clearly with Chinese consumers’ desires and expectations. For example, the decision to shrink some package sizing to accommodate limited storage space, along with a push to stock products that can’t be found anywhere else, have enabled Sam’s Club to stay relevant.
Second, what works for Sam’s Club in China may be applied in the US and other markets. According to The Wall Street Journal, Walmart executives in the US and India are learning from the retailer’s hub-and-spoke fulfillment model, which enables average delivery times of less than 40 minutes. Likewise, Sam’s Club’s US and Mexico businesses are targeting higher-income households following the success of that strategy in China.
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