Lowe’s Canada eyes westward expansion

Toronto-based Lowe’s Canada, a subsidiary of Mooresville, N.C.-based-Lowe’s Cos., announced three new stores planned for the Calgary region in 2010.

The stores will be in addition to the 35 to 45 stores the company plans to open in the United States for 2010.

The three new stores will be located around the city of Calgary, in the province of Alberta: “one located at CrossIron Mills in the County of Rocky View, one located in the Shepard Industrial Area/McKenzie Town and one located in the Sunridge Industrial Area,” the company said in a release.

The company also announced plans to expand into Edmonton, Alberta, and the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan in future years.

The company, which opened its first Canadian stores in 2007 in the greater Toronto area, has until now been relatively quiet regarding expansion plans. Since the opening of the first three stores, the company has expanded to 15 stores in the province of Ontario.

"Lowe's has been warmly welcomed by Canadian consumers over the past two years, and our research shows that our innovative products and passion for superior customer service will appeal to home improvement enthusiasts across Western Canada, as well," said Alan Huggins, president, Lowe's Canada.

Huggins replaced Don Stallings as president in September of this year as Stallings headed to Australia to lead the company’s expansion down under.

"Based on our experience, we know Canadians want to both protect their investment in their homes and make home improvements that will enhance their quality of life for years to come," Huggins added. "We look forward to making that process convenient for our Calgary customers, while we also pursue additional opportunities in Edmonton, British Columbia and Saskatchewan."

The company said that each store creates more than 100 local jobs and represents an average investment of CDN$19.4 million (US$18.5 million).