Walmart launches Supercentre program in Atlantic Canada

• $90 million investment this fiscal year to renovate and expand locations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
• 900 construction jobs and 300 new store associate jobs will be created
• Walmart launches Brands You Recognize in Maritime provinces

MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Walmart Canada today launched its popular Supercentre program in Atlantic Canada with the grand opening of the company's first Supercentre in the region at Mumford Road and Coleman Street in Halifax. The company also confirmed details of its Supercentre expansion plans for the Maritimes this year, which will consist of the expansion and renovation of nine stores in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, adding a complete assortment of fresh groceries to each store. It will also expand the existing dry food, frozen and chilled sections at these nine locations to provide customers with a full grocery shopping destination.

"The addition of fresh groceries to our stores in the Maritimes is a major milestone for us as it extends our fresh food offering from the Pacific to the Atlantic," said Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada.  "We are very excited to introduce our Supercentre format to Atlantic Canada and help our east coast customers save money on their groceries every week."

The retailer has already listed over 20 new grocery suppliers located in the Maritimes for items from dry grocery to fruit and vegetables to meat and seafood, and will continue meeting with potential new suppliers as it expands its grocery offer. As part of Walmart's Supercentre program in Atlantic Canada, the retailer today also introduced a new program for the Maritimes under the banner Brands You Recognize. The goal of the program is to promote items sourced from Maritime-based suppliers as well as local favourites.

"Our food team has been working with new local suppliers and our existing suppliers to ensure we are providing customers in the Maritimes with the quality products and assortment they expect," added Broader. "We look forward to hearing their feedback as we grow our food offering throughout Atlantic Canada."

The nine Supercentre projects represent an investment of $90 million in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and will create 900 construction jobs for the renovation and expansion of the stores. The company will also add approximately 300 new associate positions in the grocery sections. Anyone interested in a position at one of the new stores is encouraged to apply online at www.walmartcanada.ca/careers or speak with the People Manager in store.

Grand opening ceremonies will be held for each location starting this summer and will continue until January 2014.

The locations are as follows:

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 380 locations nationwide including 217 Supercentres. The retailer serves more than one million customers each day, and its online store, www.walmart.ca, is visited by over 250,000 Canadians daily. With over 95,000 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's community giving program is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $180 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