CANADA: Wal-Mart to invest in Canada expansion

Walmart Canada announces expansion plans

Retailer will invest $450 million for supercentre and distribution centre projects
37 supercentre projects will add 1.4 million square feet of retail space
The projects will create more than 7,000 new store, trade and construction jobs
First supercentres in Maritmes to open this fiscal year
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Today Walmart Canada announced that it plans to complete at least 37 supercentre projects in the company's next fiscal year, which runs from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014. The company also announced it will be expanding its distribution network to support its ongoing store growth and expansion plans.

The distribution centre projects, construction of new stores, and expansion, remodelling or relocation of existing stores represents an investment of more than $450 million in the Canadian economy. These expansion plans are expected to generate more than 7,000 store, trade and construction jobs.

"Our associates across the country have done an incredible job this past year serving our customers and opening a record number of new stores and supercentres," said Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. "This year, we are ramping up our focus on lowering prices and helping customers lower their cost of living, as we continue to bring our supercentre format to more Canadians."

Walmart's supercentres provide Canadians with a one-stop shopping experience. Each stores carries close to 100,000 different products ranging from apparel and home decor to electronics and grocery, plus specialty services such as pharmacies, garden centres, and vision centres. The company will also introduce the supercentre format to locations in the Maritimes this year.

"We're truly delighted to be adding a full grocery section to more locations across the country, including the opening of our first supercentres in the Maritimes," said Ms. Broader. "We look forward to helping our customers coast-to-coast save money on groceries as well as their general merchandise purchases."

The locations for specific store and distribution centre projects will be announced as the details for each project are finalized.

As of January 31, 2013, Walmart Canada will have 379 stores, including 209 supercentres. Today's announcement is expected to bring the company's store count to 388 by the end of January, 2014. The retailer will grand open nine supercentres this Friday, January 25. The final two stores included with the 73 store projects planned for the current fiscal year will grand open on January 31. Today's announcement is a continuation of the growth rate of 35 to 40 supercentre projects in Canada for the past several years. FY13 was an exceptional year due to the addition of 73 projects which included 39 former Zellers locations.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 375 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each day, as well as its flagship online store, www.walmart.ca, which is visited by over 250,000 Canadians daily. With over 94,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada's top 10 corporate cultures. Walmart Canada is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $160 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations. Additional company information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/@walmartcanada.

SOURCE Walmart Canada

Original source: Wal-Mart Canada