Retailer to create more than 9,200 new store, trade and construction jobs
Mississauga, Ontario, January 26, 2011 – Today Walmart Canada announced that it plans to open 40 supercentres in the company’s next fiscal year, which runs from February 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012. The projects, which will include building new stores and expanding, remodelling or relocating existing stores, will represent an investment of more than half a billion dollars in Canadian communities. The supercentres are expected to generate more than 9,200 store and construction jobs. Specific store locations will be announced over the coming weeks and months.
Walmart also confirmed today that it is bringing the supercentre program to two new provinces in 2011—Manitoba and Quebec. Walmart Canada’s supercentre format, which was first launched in Ontario in 2006 and is available in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, provides a full range of groceries and general merchandise under one roof.
Commenting on today’s announcement, David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada, said: “Walmart supercentres offer Canadians the widest assortment of products under one roof in the marketplace. Our customers consistently tell us that they are looking for convenience and everyday low prices. Walmart Canada delivers both.”
As of December 31, Walmart Canada had 323 stores, including 119 Supercentres. By January 31, 2011, Walmart Canada’s store count will be 325—of which 124 will be supercentres. Today’s announcement is expected to bring the company’s store count to 333 stores by the end of January, 2012, including 164 supercentres and 169 discount stores.
Established in 1994 and headquartered in Mississauga Ontario, Walmart Canada operates 323 stores and serves more than 1 million customers each day. Walmart is Canada’s third-largest employer with 85,000 associates, and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada’s top 10 corporate cultures. Since 1994, Walmart raised and donated over $125 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.
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