Walmart plans expansion in Canada

Walmart on Tuesday updated its plans for its Canadian division, saying that it plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects in the country during the company’s next fiscal year (Feb. 1, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014). The announcement comes a couple of months before Target Corp.’s spring launch of its stores in Canada.

Walmart also announced it will expand its distribution network to support its ongoing Canadian store growth and expansion plans.  The distribution center projects, new store construction and expansion, remodeling or relocation of existing stores represents an investment of more than $450 million in the Canadian economy. The 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.”

Full grocery sections will be added to more locations across Canada.

“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 Broader. “We look forward to helping our customers coast-to-coast save money on groceries as well as their general merchandise purchases." 

As of Jan. 31, 2013, Walmart Canada will have 379 stores, including 209 supercentres. The new round of expansion is expected to bring the company’s store count to 388 by the end of January 2014.

The retailer will grand open nine supercenters this Friday, Jan. 25. The final two stores included with the 73 store projects planned for the current fiscal year will grand open on Jan. 31.