Sam's Club

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A membership-only warehouse-club retailer owned and operated by Walmart.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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First read: Oct 29, 2026
Latest read: Nov 5, 2026

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Overview

Sam's Club is a membership-based warehouse-club retailer and a subsidiary of Walmart Inc. It sells groceries, household supplies, consumer electronics, furniture, apparel, health and beauty products, jewelry, gasoline, and a range of ancillary services, generally in large pack sizes and at prices positioned below conventional retail. The format is designed to serve both households and small businesses: members pay an annual fee for access to clubs, member pricing, online ordering, delivery, curbside pickup, fuel stations, and selected professional services. The chain began on April 7, 1983, when Walmart founder Sam Walton opened the first Sam's Wholesale Club in Midwest City, Oklahoma. The business was named for Walton and was intended to compete in the emerging warehouse-club sector. Its early expansion was accelerated by Walmart's 1987 purchase of the SuperSaver Wholesale Warehouse Club chain, which added 24 locations. In 1990, the company shortened its name to Sam's Club. Walmart expanded the network further in 1993 by acquiring PACE Membership Warehouse from Kmart and converting most of its locations to Sam's Club stores. Sam's Club typically operates large, warehouse-like clubs in which merchandise is displayed in steel racks, cartons, and pallets. Its assortment includes food and beverages, fresh meat and produce, bakery goods, prepared foods, cleaning and paper products, appliances, televisions, computers, furniture, clothing, optical products, pharmacy items, tires, batteries, floral products, and gasoline. The chain also operates cafés and, at selected locations, car washes and other services. In 2017, Walmart consolidated several Sam's Club private-label lines under Member's Mark, which became the principal Sam's Club-owned brand rather than using Walmart's Great Value or Sam's Choice labels. The company has periodically experimented with alternative formats and digital retailing. Más Club, opened in Houston in 2009, targeted Hispanic consumers but was liquidated and closed in 2014. Sam's Club launched its mobile-first Sam's Club Now concept in Dallas in 2018, emphasizing app-based scanning, payment, and pickup. Its Scan & Go capabilities were subsequently integrated into the main Sam's Club application. The retailer has also invested in curbside pickup, delivery, digital membership tools, and automated receipt verification. Sam's Club has faced periodic retrenchment and labor disruption. It exited Canada in 2009 after operating six clubs, closed additional underperforming United States locations in 2010 and 2014, and announced the closure of 63 United States clubs in 2018. Some of the 2018 sites were converted into e-commerce distribution facilities. The chain has also changed its leadership several times, including the appointments of Rosalind Brewer, John Furner, Kathryn McLay, and Christopher Nicholas. Internationally, Sam's Club operates directly in Mexico and China and has a licensed presence in Brazil through Grupo BIG, formerly Walmart Brazil and now associated with Carrefour. Its principal competitive reference point is Costco, with BJ's Wholesale Club also competing in the United States. Sam's Club remains an active Walmart business centered on membership revenue, high-volume merchandise, private-label products, omnichannel shopping, and operational efficiency.

History

Sam Walton opened the first Sam's Wholesale Club in Midwest City, Oklahoma, on April 7, 1983. The concept extended Walmart's value-retailing approach into a membership warehouse format, with bulk merchandise, limited service, pallet-style presentation, and a customer base comprising both families and small businesses. Expansion accelerated in 1987 when Wal-Mart Stores acquired the SuperSaver Wholesale Warehouse Club chain based in West Monroe, Louisiana. The transaction added 24 locations. In 1989, Sam's Wholesale Club entered New Jersey through a former Two Guys/Jefferson Ward property in Delran, marking Walmart's first move into the Northeast. The business adopted the shorter Sam's Club name in 1990. Walmart then acquired PACE Membership Warehouse from Kmart in 1993 and converted most PACE facilities into Sam's Club stores, materially increasing its national footprint. The chain continued to develop large warehouse clubs selling food, household goods, electronics, furniture, apparel, jewelry, automotive products, and services such as pharmacy, optical, tire and battery, bakery, café, floral, and fuel operations. A new logo was introduced in 2006. The company also considered strategic alternatives, including possible sale or separation from Walmart, although it remained within the Walmart group. Sam's Club entered Canada in 2003 with six clubs concentrated in Southern Ontario. Walmart Canada closed the entire Canadian operation in 2009 and converted two unopened sites into Walmart stores. In the United States, the company announced further closures in 2010 and 2014 while continuing to open selected new clubs. In 2018, Walmart announced the closure of 63 additional United States clubs; some were repurposed as e-commerce distribution centers. These measures reflected the difficulty of balancing a large physical network with changing shopping patterns and strong competition from Costco and other warehouse or mass-retail operators. The company has repeatedly adjusted its private-label and digital strategies. In 2017, it consolidated key private labels under Member's Mark. In 2016, it introduced Scan & Go, enabling shoppers to scan and pay through a mobile application; the dedicated application was later folded into the principal Sam's Club app. The Sam's Club Now pilot opened in Dallas in 2018 as a mobile-first retail experiment combining in-store scanning with advance ordering and curbside pickup. Más Club, a separate Houston format aimed at Hispanic consumers, was liquidated in late 2013 and closed in early 2014. Leadership changed substantially during the 2010s and early 2020s. Rosalind Brewer became chief executive in 2012, John Furner succeeded her in 2017, Kathryn McLay succeeded Furner in 2019, and Christopher Nicholas became chief executive after McLay moved to Walmart International in 2023. Under this later leadership, Sam's Club emphasized digital fulfillment, member value, private-label development, and renewed club growth. The retailer operates in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as Mexico and China. Brazil has Sam's Club locations operated under license by Grupo BIG, the former Walmart Brazil business that later became part of Carrefour. The company has also encountered controversies, including a 2020 hate-motivated violent incident at a Texas store and a 2021 dispute in China over the removal of products associated with Xinjiang. More recently, it has tested automated receipt verification, reflecting its continuing focus on shrink reduction and frictionless checkout.

2025
Nationwide AI receipt verification announced
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
The company announces nationwide deployment of automated receipt verification in United States clubs.
2023
Christopher Nicholas becomes chief executive
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Christopher Nicholas succeeds Kathryn McLay as Sam's Club chief executive.
2018
Sam's Club Now pilot opens
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
The Dallas mobile-first store tests app-led shopping and fulfillment.
2017
Member's Mark consolidation
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Sam's Club consolidates its principal private-label products under Member's Mark.
2016
Scan & Go rollout
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Mobile self-scanning and payment become available throughout the United States network.
2009
Canadian exit
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Walmart Canada closes all six Sam's Club locations in the country.
2003
Entry into Canada
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Sam's Club opens its first Canadian locations in Southern Ontario.
1993
PACE Membership Warehouse acquisition
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Walmart acquires PACE from Kmart and converts most of its locations into Sam's Club stores.
1990
Name shortened to Sam's Club
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
The company drops “Wholesale” from its trading name.
1987
SuperSaver acquisition expands the chain
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Walmart acquires SuperSaver Wholesale Warehouse Club and adds 24 locations to the Sam's network.
1983
First Sam's Wholesale Club opens
[1]Sam's Cluben.wikipedia.org
Sam Walton opens the first club in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Products and positioning

Membership warehouse retail focused on value, bulk purchasing, convenience, and service for households and small businesses.

Private label · 2017
Member's Mark
Member's Mark is Sam's Club's principal private-label platform. It covers a broad range of food, beverages, household supplies, personal-care products, apparel, furniture, and other merchandise. The brand was consolidated from several earlier Sam's Club private labels in 2017 and is used to support the chain's value and quality positioning.
Membership service · 1983
Sam's Club membership
Membership is the access mechanism for Sam's Club's warehouse stores and digital services. Members receive access to member pricing, bulk merchandise, fuel benefits, online ordering, curbside pickup, delivery, and selected services. The model generates recurring membership income while supporting the retailer's low-margin, high-volume merchandise strategy.
Digital retail service · 2016
Scan & Go
Scan & Go allows members to use the Sam's Club mobile application to scan products during a shopping trip, pay digitally, and leave without using a conventional checkout lane. The capability was introduced as a dedicated mobile experience and later incorporated into the main Sam's Club app.
Retail format · 2018
Sam's Club Now
Sam's Club Now was a Dallas pilot designed around mobile-first shopping. Customers could scan and pay through the app, place orders ahead of time, and collect purchases through same-day curbside pickup. The format served as a test bed for digital fulfillment and lower-friction store operations.

Controversies

2026
Goodhealth recalls batches of Oyster Plus capsules in China
Goodhealth announced a voluntary recall of the batches of Oyster Plus capsules identified in a customs consumer notice after contaminants were detected in some samples. Sam's Club said it had removed the product from sale, was communicating the recall, and had initiated refunds for members.
Source
2022
Walmart sues BJ's over self-checkout technology
Walmart and Sam's Club filed a lawsuit accusing BJ's Wholesale Club of stealing technology used in Sam's Club's Scan & Go self-checkout feature. Walmart alleges that BJ's ExpressPay infringes its patent rights; the allegations are claims in the lawsuit.
Source
2021
Xinjiang-product removal controversy
Sam's Club removed some goods produced in Xinjiang and attributed the action to an inventory issue. Chinese authorities and commentators criticized the move, and reports described consumer boycotts and cancelled or suspended memberships.
Source
2021
Sam's Club responds to reports of Xinjiang products being unavailable
After reports and online queries alleged that Sam's Club had removed Xinjiang products, a representative of its customer service said product listing and delisting depended on actual inventory. The report did not establish that all such products had been removed.
Source
2021
Guantanamera files trademark lawsuit over DUO
Guantanamera Cigars Co. filed a lawsuit against Swedish Match, Costco and Sam’s Club, alleging that Swedish Match’s White Owl Duos product infringes Guantanamera’s DUO trademark. The complaint also alleged that the product lacked required FDA authorization; the source reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source
2020
Midland store stabbing
A stabbing at a Sam's Club in Midland, Texas, wounded three Asian family members, including two children. The alleged attacker reportedly believed Chinese people were responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source
2020
Former Sam’s Club employee files lawsuit alleging harsh working conditions
A former Sam’s Club employee, Christina Batista, filed a lawsuit against the Conroe store. According to the complaint, she was required to wear a face mask under harsh conditions and was harassed by employers about it. Sam’s Club stated that it would review the complaint and respond in court as appropriate after being served. The event was reported on July 15, 2020.
Source

Unconfirmed
Walmart launches Agent Gateway[8]沃尔玛推出 Agent Gatewayksl.com
Walmart launched the Walmart Agent Gateway, a platform that allows AI assistants to connect directly with Walmart and Sam's Club systems to search for products and complete purchases.
2026.10.20
Walmart and Sam’s Club announce joint membership package[9]沃尔玛与山姆会员店宣布联合会员套餐independent.co.uk
Reported2026.10.20
Walmart and Sam’s Club announced a $120 membership package combining Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus memberships. Existing Sam’s Club Plus members can add Walmart+ at no extra cost.
2026.10.20
Walmart and Sam’s Club introduce a joint membership[10]沃尔玛与山姆会员店推出联合会员计划cnbc.com
Reported2026.10.20
Walmart began offering a joint membership combining Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus for $120 per year. Both retailers will continue to offer standalone memberships.
2026.10.15
Sam's Club rolls out largest-ever Thanksgiving meal priced under $10 per person[11]山姆会员店推出迄今最大规模感恩节套餐，人均价格低于10美元foxbusiness.com
Reported2026.10.15
Sam's Club announced on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 that it is rolling out its largest Thanksgiving meal offering to date: a 2026 holiday meal designed to feed 16 people with 11 items for under $10 per person, up from nine items last year with the per-person price unchanged. The meal will be available beginning Oct. 28 in clubs and online, and Sam's Club said it spent roughly 12 months developing it with feedback from members.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2026.10.14
Goodhealth recalls batches of Oyster Plus capsules in China[3]Goodhealth recalls batches of Oyster Plus capsules in Chinaindustry.caijing.com.cn
Goodhealth announced a voluntary recall of the batches of Oyster Plus capsules identified in a customs consumer notice after contaminants were detected in some samples. Sam's Club said it had removed the product from sale, was communicating the recall, and had initiated refunds for members.
Unconfirmed
Sam's Club sells $26 Halloween crafts Advent calendar[12]山姆会员店推出26美元万圣节手工降临历womansworld.com
Reported2026.08.12
Sam's Club is selling a $26 Halloween-themed arts and crafts Advent calendar, an ArtSkills haunted house-shaped box with more than 130 pieces that assembles into a house with 13 windows revealing crafts. It is available on the Sam's Club website with nationwide shipping, including to non-members for a 10 percent service fee, and in warehouses.
2022.03.23
Walmart sues BJ’s over self-checkout technology[13]Walmart就自助结账技术起诉BJ’stheepochtimes.com
Reported2022.03.25
Walmart filed a lawsuit against BJ’s, alleging that BJ’s used technology related to the self-checkout option in the Sam’s Club mobile app in its ExpressPay offering. The lawsuit reportedly alleges infringement of Walmart’s patent rights; the allegations are not established as findings.
2022.03.22
Walmart sues BJ's over self-checkout technology[5]Walmart sues BJ's over self-checkout technologynbcphiladelphia.com
Reported2022.03.23
Walmart and Sam's Club filed a lawsuit accusing BJ's Wholesale Club of stealing technology used in Sam's Club's Scan & Go self-checkout feature. Walmart alleges that BJ's ExpressPay infringes its patent rights; the allegations are claims in the lawsuit.
2021.12.24
Sam's Club responds to reports of Xinjiang products being unavailable[6]Sam's Club responds to reports of Xinjiang products being unavailablenews.hangzhou.com.cn
Reported2021.12.25
After reports and online queries alleged that Sam's Club had removed Xinjiang products, a representative of its customer service said product listing and delisting depended on actual inventory. The report did not establish that all such products had been removed.
2021.08.23
G FUEL launches FaZe Clan variety pack at Sam’s Club[14]G FUEL在Sam’s Club推出FaZe Clan混合装prnewswire.com
Reported2021.08.23
G FUEL introduced its first 18-pack of cans, the FaZe Clan Variety Pack, featuring MFAM Punch, Sour Blue Chug Rug and FaZeberry. The limited-time pack was available at Sam’s Club stores across the United States and online.

Sources42 sources

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Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Related entries

Sources42 sources