Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, will expand at a greater pace this year than last.
Addressing the National Retail Federation conference in New York on Sunday, Wal-Mart chief executive officer Lee Scott said that up to 350 stores of all formats will open across the US.
A total of 220 Supercentres are planned, including a pilot 99,000 sq ft (9,200 sq m) outlet in Tampa, Florida. Supercentres are typically 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m).
Additionally, 140 stores will open overseas, although 30 will be relocations.
Scott highlighted China, India and Russia as potentially attractive markets for expansion.
The expansion programme will bring Wal-Mart's retail space up to about 650 million sq ft (60.4 million sq m).
'The environment is right for growth,' said Scott. He revealed that 63 of the new stores would be up and running by the end of this month.
Scott also used his address to issue a number of calls to action. He appealed to the US government to do more to improve worker healthcare, at the same time defending his own company's record in that respect.
He also asked the government to reform legal redress - such as injury claims and class-action lawsuits - which he said were a barrier to retailers' growth in the home market.
Finally, Scott made a veiled call for a global industry body to be formed.
'It's time for retailers to come together on common issues that impact us,' he said. 'We need to find out what similarities we have.'
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