Walmart Will Begin Selling Poke Bowls
Some Walmart locations are going to get a poke bar.
When you picture grabbing a meal inside Walmart, you probably think of Subway locations tucked near the entrance (did you know some of them sell hot dogs?). But these days, the American dining public prefers a more diverse food selection, which is why we're hoping Walmart's new partnership with a surprising category of fast-casual food chain might usher in some new flavors. Care for a poke bowl with your tube socks and AA batteries?
Some Walmart locations will now begin to sell poke
Walmart has announced its partnership with a fast-casual restaurant chain called Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar. The two parties have negotiated a national expansion, so someday we might see locations pop up inside Walmarts everywhere.
Ten new locations of Uncle Sharkii's are planned in California over the next five months, but the plan is to eventually expand to other states as well.
"This is a monumental step in a major push to achieve Uncle Sharkii's mission to bring 'Affordable Poke Bowls to the Masses'!" said Uncle Sharkii founder and CEO Fen Reyes in the press release.
What type of food does Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar serve?
Uncle Sharkii serves some pretty standard poke bowls, with your choice of raw fish, cooked shrimp, grilled chicken, or tofu served over rice or salad; you then finish your bowl with a selection of sauce. Other items include boba tea and Dole soft serve. These planned Walmart locations are also going to get some exclusive items as well, which haven't been announced yet. (I'm guessing there won't be any hot dogs.)
Currently, Uncle Sharkii has locations in California, Utah, Texas, and Hawaii, with additional locations opening up in Arizona and Nevada.
Poke's been gaining some slow momentum over the past few years, touted as a more healthy option than a burger, but the food isn't without its own controversy here on the mainland. Some poke shops have tried to keep the dish's heritage known in the names of their restaurants by incorporating the word "aloha," but it's gotten to the point where legal fights have ensued over the term. That's not very ohana of you all.
Hopefully this rollout will be free of controversy, though, because the idea of eating poke rather than a submarine sandwich at the beginning or end of a shopping trip sounds like a good option. Love it or hate it, Walmart's business decisions are carefully calculated. If the company wants its stores to host a poke shop, then there's probably plenty of data to suggest that a diversity of food options is what the American shopping public is looking for right now.