Walmart is adding a new store nationally as part of a major revamp. Within five months, the supermarket giant will open a new delectable restaurant at 10 California locations. However, "nationwide" expansion is planned.
The agreement is with Hawaiian fast-food chain Uncle Sharkii, famed for poke bowls, boba drinks, and Dole soft-serve. A poke bowl is diced raw fish served as an appetizer or main course with a salad.
The eatery will open in 10 California sites, according to a corporate press release. The nationwide expansion will presumably depend on their performance in California.
Fox reports that Uncle Sharkii has non-Walmart outlets in California, Hawaii, Texas, and Utah, with more opening soon. Fans of the restaurant can acquire items they may not find at other Walmart locations on the menu tailored for Walmart locations.
Uncle Sharkii founder and CEO Fen Reyes stated in a news release: "I want to bring the Sharkii Ohana to millions of Walmart families. This is a huge step toward Uncle Sharkii's goal of 'Affordable Poke Bowls to the Masses.'"
She added: "We want to reach America's core and spread the 'Spirit of Aloha' across the nation. Walmart has traditionally been a hangout for Hawaiians, visitors, and families.
Visitors feel a sense of community and nostalgia in its stores. I never believed cooperating with Walmart would be conceivable in my lifetime, and I look forward to a fruitful cooperation."
February 2018 saw Uncle Sharkii's launch. On its website, Reyes recounts seeing an uncle give his niece, whom he has never met, a toy shark.
"Melody and her uncle formed a close bond over snacks and boba milk tea, creating a cherished memory for Fen Reyes, the founder and CEO of Uncle Sharkii PokeBar," the site says.
The family connection over food stuck with Fen. This idea and her husband Raymond Reyes' Hawaiian roots inspired Uncle Sharkii, a quick-serve restaurant that prioritizes food, family, and simplicity."