Is Sam’s Club the Same as Walmart – Here’s the Truth

Is Sam’s Club the same as Walmart? If you’ve ever shopped at both retailers or spotted them near each other, this question has probably crossed your mind. Both brands dominate the American retail landscape, offer a huge variety of products, and promote unbeatable value. 

But while they’re tightly connected at the corporate level, their shopping experiences, business models, and target customers are distinctly different. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer the burning question by exploring their relationship, history, differences, and what all this means for shoppers in 2025 and beyond.

Understanding the Corporate Relationship – Who Owns Sam’s Club?

Walmart Inc. is the largest retailer in the world, ranking among the most influential companies in history. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart operates more than 10,500 stores worldwide, including Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and of course, Sam’s Club locations. It serves over 255 million customers every week across the globe.

Sam’s Club is not just a casual partner—it’s wholly owned by Walmart Inc. Launched in 1983 by Sam Walton (Walmart’s legendary founder), Sam’s Club was born as an experiment to create a new kind of warehouse club shopping experience, competing directly with retailers like Costco and BJ’s.

All Sam’s Club assets, decision-making, and profits are consolidated within Walmart Inc.’s massive financial ecosystem. This structure allows Sam’s Club to share resources—like distribution, logistics, and data analytics—with Walmart, making both brands stronger together.

Walmart uses Sam’s Club strategically as its membership warehouse division, while Sam’s Club focuses on bulk savings and special member services.

Brief History – How Sam’s Club Evolved With Walmart

Sam’s Club opened its first doors on April 7, 1983, in Midwest City, Oklahoma, 21 years after the first Walmart store. The vision was to give small business owners—and eventually everyday families—access to goods at wholesale prices through a paid membership model. 

The name “Sam’s Club” is a direct tribute to founder Sam Walton and his commitment to delivering value and service.

Timeline Highlights

• 1987: Acquired SuperSaver Wholesale Warehouse Club, rapidly expanding its reach.
• 1990: Dropped “Wholesale” from its name, cementing the Sam’s Club identity.
• 1993: Bought Kmart’s Pace Membership Warehouse locations, growing the store base.
• 2003-2006: Briefly entered Canada, but exited after a few years due to intense competition.
• 2016-2018: Launched Scan & Go mobile app, Instacart partnership, and other digital moves. 
• 2020–2025: Focus on technology (AI, contactless checkouts, robust app), improving private label brands, and global expansion (Mexico, China, Brazil with licensing).

Today, Sam’s Club has matured into the U.S.’s second-largest warehouse club behind Costco, but remains Walmart’s exclusive club model offering. Both Walmart and Sam’s Club are still central parts of the Walton family’s legacy, with the family retaining significant influence over Walmart’s direction.

Comparing Business Models – How Are Sam’s Club and Walmart Different?

The most important distinction between Sam’s Club and Walmart is their business model

Feature	Sam’s Club	Walmart
Store Access	Membership required ($50–$110/year)	Open to all, no membership needed
Focus	Bulk purchases, business & families	Everyday convenience all shoppers
Pricing	Member-exclusive, bulk savings	“Everyday Low Price” (EDLP) for all
Private Label	Member’s Mark, exclusive to club	Great Value, Sam’s Choice, Walmart +
Store Footprint	~600 U.S. clubs, 220+ intl. (2025)	4,606 Walmart US stores (2025)
Frequency of Visit	Less frequent, larger basket	Frequent, smaller basket
Customer Demographic	Middle/upper-middle income, businesses	All income levels, broader range

Sam’s Club

• Shoppers pay an annual fee for access.
• Products are offered mainly in bulk and at warehouse prices—meaning lower-per-unit costs, especially for families or businesses who buy large quantities.
• There’s a strong emphasis on curated product selection, high-quality private label (Member’s Mark), and perks like pharmacy, optical, fuel, travel, and business services.
• Members are often small business owners or budget-focused families who value value-added and premium selection.

Need help getting started? Don’t miss our How to Activate Sam’s Club Membership

Walmart

• Anyone can shop there for free, including online, for anything from a single banana to a big-screen TV.
• Offers massive selection, including national brands and Walmart-exclusive brands like Great Value.
• Focuses on the “everyday low price” strategy over bulk-only discounts.
• Appeals to a broader demographic, including very price-sensitive customers, everyday shoppers, and local communities.

Sam’s Club runs on the “price club” bulk membership model; Walmart is an open-access supermarket and discount store. 

Membership Structure

• Club membership fee: $50/year; Plus membership: $110/year (extra rewards, free shipping, early hours, pharmacy perks).
• Perks: Cash back on qualifying purchases, discounted prescriptions, early/late shopping, and exclusive deals.

Walmart, in contrast, has no membership fee, but offers “Walmart+” (similar to Amazon Prime) for $98/year for online perks, not required to shop in stores.

Want to save even more? Check out our guide on How to Activate Complimentary Sam’s Club Membership

More than 69 million U.S. members (2022), record highs in membership and renewal rates exceeding 90% for “tenured” members. About 50% of new member growth is among Gen Z and Millennials, showing appeal across generations.

Store Footprint and Global Presence

Sam’s Club

• United States: 602 clubs as of September 2025, covering 45 states and Puerto Rico. Texas has the largest count (82 stores, 14% of the U.S. total).
• International: 173 clubs in Mexico, 48 in China, 58 in Brazil (via licensing right/license fee arrangements).
• Expansion: Announced a pipeline to open about 15 new U.S. clubs per year, remodeling all existing clubs to set a new store standard (“club of the future” piloted in Grapevine, TX), and planning significant investment in digital and supply chain infrastructure.

Walmart

• United States: Over 4,606 stores, including Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and a few discount stores in every state and region.
• Global: Operates worldwide, with thousands of stores in 19+ countries and an even greater international presence than Sam’s Club, often under different banners (e.g., Bodega Aurrera in Mexico, Asda in the UK).

What it Means

Sam’s Club is extensive nationwide and has growing international reach—especially in North America and Asia—while Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, both by store count and revenue.

Financial Performance and Market Standing

Sam’s Club

• U.S. net sales topped $90.2 billion in FY 2025, up from $86.2 billion in 2024, representing about 13% of Walmart’s total revenue.
• Comparable U.S. club sales grew about 5.9% in the most recent year, with e-commerce sales up 24% year over year.
• Globally, there are about 800 Sam’s Club warehouse stores (U.S. and international combined).

Walmart

• Total company sales reached $660.3 billion in the most recent fiscal year, with U.S. business accounting for more than 60% of sales.
• Walmart serves over 255 million shoppers each week, making it the most visited store chain worldwide.

Membership and Market Share

• Latest industry data shows Sam’s Club at 31% U.S. warehouse club market share, second to Costco (62%) but ahead of BJ’s (7%).
• Membership renewal rates (above 90%), membership growth (22% in the past two years), and revenue growth are at all-time highs.
• Memberships now approach parity between Plus and basic tiers, with Plus representing over 50% of members (as of 2025).

Product Assortment and Private Labels

Sam’s Club stores offer a carefully curated mix of national brands, seasonal items, and, most importantly, their exclusive private label, Member’s Mark. Member’s Mark now accounts for approximately 30–50% of total club sales, reflecting the strength of its quality, innovation, and appeal to value-focused shoppers.

Member’s Mark covers nearly everything: food, household goods, health, apparel, pet supplies, even in-store-prepared sushi bars and expanded health and wellness services. Other Sam’s Club brands include Bakers & Chefs, Daily Chef, and more—but Member’s Mark is at the heart of the brand’s modern identity.

You might also like; Whose Brand is Member’s Mark – Brand Overview & History

Walmart’s private label brands are also broad—Great Value (grocery and everyday items), Sam’s Choice (premium food), Equate (health), Mainstays (home), and more. But unlike Sam’s Club, Sam’s Choice and Great Value are not available at Sam’s Club—their brands remain store-exclusive.

Pricing Strategies – How Do Prices Compare?

Sam’s Club specializes in low unit costs through bulk buying. On average, shoppers report 20–30% savings on staples and many non-perishable items compared to traditional retailers, especially when member-specific discounts are factored in. 

Member’s Mark and exclusive offers often beat Costco and BJ’s on certain SKUs, and are routinely cheaper than Walmart for comparable bulk sizes.

Examples

• 45 rolls of Member’s Mark 2-ply toilet paper at Sam’s Club cost $24.26, compared to $24.99 for 30 rolls at Costco.
• Bulk bread, coffee, and household supplies nearly always come out cheaper per unit at Sam’s Club versus mainstream grocery and even other club retailers.

Walmart’s pricing is very aggressive, but often best for smaller quantities and non-bulk purchases. The company’s “Everyday Low Price” (EDLP) promise ensures competitors can’t undercut them on individual items, but serious bulk buyers will typically find better per-unit value at Sam’s Club—even factoring in the membership fee.

What About the Fees?

• A basic Sam’s Club membership is $50/year, while Plus is $110/year but includes free shipping, pharmacy savings, and extra perks.
• Many shoppers break even after just a few large bulk shops per year. Occasional shoppers or small households may find Walmart’s open-access approach better value, but businesses and families who buy frequently benefit the most from membership savings

Omnichannel Shopping and Digital Integration

Sam’s Club leads the warehouse club sector in omnichannel and digital integration

• Scan & Go™

Allows members to scan and pay via app while shopping, skipping checkout lines—a feature now rolled out nationally.

• Just Go exit

AI-powered computer vision verifies purchases, eliminating manual receipt checks.

• Curbside Pickup and Express Delivery

Options expanded during the pandemic, and usage is up 21% year over year.

• App/Mobile Experience

Over half of members engage digitally, and members who shop across both online and in-club channels spend three times more, shop more categories, and renew at higher rates.

Sam’s powerful Member Access Platform (MAP) delivers personalized offers, tailored ads, and frictionless shopping. Their e-commerce operations continue to grow, with more than 40% of in-store shoppers researching products on their app before buying.

Walmart Also Invests Heavily in Omnichannel

• Market-leading online grocery, curbside, delivery, and robust digital price comparison tools.
• Walmart+ membership, which competes with Amazon Prime and now includes some fuel perks, free shipping, and other benefits.

In short Sam’s Club and Walmart both excel at blending in-store and online, but Sam’s Club’s innovations are tailored to the unique membership club model, with a focus on speed, personalization, and frictionless checkout.

Member Experience, Services, and In-Store Features

What Sets the Member Experience Apart? Sam’s Club delivers a club-based, value- and experience-driven proposition centered around four pillars: Value, Assortment, Experience, and Trust.

In-Store Advantages

• Clean, warehouse-style layouts for fast bulk shopping.
• Expansive service departments: pharmacy, tire & battery, bakery, café, optical, floral, travel, event planning, and even pet insurance and wellness clinics.
• Frequent sampling events, demos, and member feedback initiatives like the 50,000-member strong Member’s Mark Community—where members co-create new private label products.
• AI-powered tech helps make checkout and daily tasks even more efficient for staff and shoppers.

Pharmacy

• Anyone (not just members) can fill prescriptions at Sam’s Club pharmacies, often at competitive rates thanks to bulk purchasing power.

Walmart’s in-store services are also broad but focus on personal banking, money transfers, check printing, and bill pay—along with standard pharmacy and grocery services.

Member Satisfaction

Recent surveys put Sam’s Club at or near the top for customer satisfaction among warehouse clubs, attributed to curated products, deep discounts, tech innovation, and a member-centric culture.

Key Executives and Governance

As of 2025, Chris Nicholas is President and CEO of Sam’s Club, promoted after an impactful tenure as executive vice president and COO of Walmart U.S.. Nicholas emphasizes people-first leadership, innovation, and operational efficiency. 

Under his leadership, Sam’s Club has seen record membership levels, major tech investments, and the accelerated expansion/remodel plan described above.

Sam’s Club key Leadership Includes

• Diana Marshall, Chief Experience Officer, developing member engagement and marketing.
• Tom Ward, Chief Operating Officer, focused on omni-channel execution.
• Julie Barber, Chief Merchandising Officer, previously at Walmart U.S.

Walmart Inc., the parent company, is chaired by the Walton family, with Doug McMillon as the CEO—a continuity of founder Sam Walton’s values.

2025 Competitor Comparison – How Sam’s Club Stands in the Warehouse Club Sector

Warehouse Club	U.S. Locations	2025 U.S. Market Share	Renewal Rate	Revenue (latest)
Costco	620	62%	92.6%	$222.7B
Sam’s Club	600+	31%	90%+	$90.2B
BJ’s Wholesale Club	237	7%	90%	$18.9B

• Costco remains the leader in the warehouse sector, but Sam’s Club is a strong #2, with a major push to win share through faster expansion, digital transformation, and product innovation. BJ’s is focused on the Eastern U.S. and is expanding, but lacks the national presence of the other two clubs.
• All three clubs are growing—club sales are siphoning shares away from traditional supermarkets, especially since the pandemic drove shoppers toward bulk value, one-stop shopping, and robust digital perks.
• The core differentiators for Sam’s as compared to Costco are bulk pricing that often slightly undercuts its rival, wider national-brand product selection, and a more high-tech customer experience.

Recent Growth Strategies and Expansion Plans

In 2025, Sam’s Club outlined one of the most ambitious transformations in modern retail

• Opening 15 new U.S. clubs per year—the largest expansion in over a decade.
• Remodeling all 600+ clubs using the new “digital-first” Grapevine, Texas club as a blueprint (no registers, enhanced pickup, and curated mobile-first experiences).
• Doubling down on digital: Major upgrades to fulfillment, supply chain, and real-time personalized tech, like computer vision exits and AI-driven member ads or product recommendations.
• Investment in associates: AI to automate repetitive tasks, better training, and career development, with the philosophy that associate satisfaction leads to stronger member loyalty.

Strategic Goal

To double membership and more than double annual sales/profit over the next 8–10 years, establishing Sam’s Club as the world’s leading club retailer—not just Costco’s chief rival, but a model for next-gen retail as a whole.

Consumer Perception – How Do Shoppers See Each Brand?

Sam’s Club

• Perceived as a high-value membership retailer, offering better-than-traditional retail savings for families and businesses willing to shop in bulk.
• Known for friendly staff, streamlined tech, curated but high-quality selection, and clean, modern clubs.
• The Member’s Mark brand is increasingly recognized for innovation and quality, competitive with Costco’s Kirkland label.
• Enjoys high satisfaction, especially among tech-savvy, young, and business customers.

Walmart

• Seen as a mass-market, open-to-all value leader, with huge variety and reliable low prices.
• Not as “premium” as Sam’s Club, but appeals to a wider range of income groups.
• Some shoppers use both: Sam’s Club for bulk and specials, Walmart for convenience and single items.

Brand loyalty is high at both, but particularly so at Sam’s Club due to the membership model and rewards. Both brands are trusted nationwide, benefiting from the Walton family legacy and a deep history of community and customer focus.

Conclusion – Is Sam’s Club the Same as Walmart?

Sam’s Club and Walmart are definitely not the same store, but they are part of the same family. Sam’s Club, as a wholly owned division of Walmart Inc., leverages the corporation’s supply chain, data, and infrastructure, enabling perks and low prices for its members. 

However, the in-club shopping experience, membership requirements, product assortment, and savings model are uniquely Sam’s Club—and are intentionally distinct from Walmart’s.

Choose Sam’s Club if

• You want exclusive bulk savings and are willing to pay a membership fee.
• You value premium in-house brands and frequent large purchases.
• You want warehouse club-only perks like advanced checkout tech, Member’s Mark, and business/family-friendly service.

Choose Walmart if

• You need everyday items, smaller quantities, or want open-access low prices.
• You prefer not to join or pay for a membership.
• You want the convenience of hyper-local stores with a huge range.

Final Tip

Many shoppers use both to maximize value. As Sam’s Club continues to innovate—with rapid store expansion, digital breakthroughs, and new member programs—it’s poised to play an even bigger role within the Walmart family and the broader world of retail over the next decade. 

Whether you’re looking for savings, service, or bulk buying power, understanding the differences between these retail titans is the best way to shop smarter in 2025 and beyond.