Walmart Canada to open 29 supercenters this year

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — One month following the exit of Target from the Canadian marketplace, Walmart Canada announced plans to expand its footprint with 29 supercenter projects for the company’s fiscal year, which runs from Feb. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016. The company announced it will also expand its distribution network this year to support its food and e-commerce growth in Canada, and will continue to expand and enhance its e-commerce website, walmart.ca.

 

Today’s expansion announcement is in addition to the 11 Walmart supercentres which recently opened across Canada in January. 

 

“Our mission is to provide multiple access points for customers to save money,” said Dirk Van den Berghe, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. “We will deliver on this commitment through a range of channels including our expanding network of supercenters, our accelerating e-commerce business, and our in-store pick up services.”

 

Locations of specific store and distribution centre projects will be announced over the coming weeks and months as projects become finalized. The expansion will bring Walmart Canada’s store count to 396 by the end of January, 2016, consisting of 309 supercentres and 87 discount stores.

 

Total capital spending for the projects is expected to be approximately $340 million in Canadian dollars this year ($268.4 million USD). This will include approximately C$230 million for supercenter projects including the remodeling and expansion of several stores to add full grocery departments, C$75 million for additional distribution centres to grow the company’s fresh food and e-commerce capacity, and C$35 million for additional e-commerce initiatives. This capital expenditure investment is part of Wal-Mart Stores’ global fiscal year 2016 capital commitment which was previously announced.