Walmart Canada has announced a $6.5-billion investment in Canada over the next five years, which it says includes “dozens of new stores across the country”, and the openings for several previously announced new facilities.
Walmart also announced it is selling its fleet services business to Canada Cartage, one of the country’s largest trucking and logistics firms.
The announcement Thursday morning mentions five new Supercentre openings in Alberta and Ontario by 2027.
This is to include major new stores in the Alberta cities of Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray, though these plans were previously disclosed late in 2024.
Walmart also notes two Supercentres already approaching completion in the Toronto area are to open by the end of this year. The Port Credit Walmart Supercentre in Mississauga is to open this summer, while the Oakville Walmart in the town just west of Toronto is to open in “late 2025.”
Walmart’s “ambitious growth” plan
Finally, Walmart says its new Vaughan distribution centre, which will be its most advanced facility in the country, is scheduled to open this spring. Vaughan is a fast-growing city located in northern section of the Greater Toronto Area.
The release does not contain any further specific information about how the new spending would be allocated, nor where any new stores might be located.
“Walmart Canada is on an ambitious growth journey to serve even more Canadians – better and differently than ever before. This $6.5 billion investment is the largest we’ve made in Canada towards expanding our footprint since we first arrived here 30 years ago,” Gui Loureiro, regional CEO, Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico and Central America, said in the announcement.
He is taking over the role of current Walmart Canada president and CEO Gonzalo Gebara.
Canada Cartage buys fleet services
Walmart’s fleet services division is based in Mississauga, and provides services for the company’s over 400 stores and other facilities across Canada. It was in the news in November in B.C., where 95 drivers based in the Metro Vancouver city of Surrey were granted interim certification by the Canada Industrial Relations Board to unionize under Unifor.
The 110-year-old Canada Cartage is also based in Mississauga, and operates a fleet of over 4,000 tractors and trailers. It employs over 3,500 people and operates logistics facilities in every major Canadian urban area, according to the company’s website.
“Canada Cartage has deep expertise in providing dedicated fleet services and has been serving Canadian businesses for more than 110 years,” Matt Kelly, Walmart Canada’s vice-president of supply chain, said in the announcement.
“Through Canada Cartage we can serve customers even better and more flexibly and provide fleet employees with exciting growth opportunities at one of Canada’s largest and most trusted supply chain service providers.”
Financial details of the transaction are not disclosed.
Walmart’s previous five-year plan
Walmart’s announcement comes as the international retail giant closes off a $3.5-billion investment in Canada, announced in 2020. This series of expansions and renovations included:
- modernizing more than 180 stores – including transforming the Mississauga-Square One Supercentre into its flagship location;
- four new store locations: in Victoria, B.C (Hillside) and Montreal, Que., (Marché Central), and relocated stores in Edmonton, Alta., (Kingsway) and Vaughan; and
- more than $800 million invested to open the Cornwall Distribution Centre, Surrey Distribution Centre, Rocky View County Fulfilment Centre (Calgary), Moncton Distribution Centre and the Vaughan Distribution Centre (still to open).
“Across the country we’re making strategic investments in our online and in-store offerings to be more relevant to more customers than ever before. From newcomers and urbanites to higher-income Canadians, more customers are choosing Walmart for their shopping needs,” Joe Schrauder, chief operations officer, Walmart Canada, said in the announcement.
About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada is an omnichannel retailer of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Its online store Walmart.ca is visited by more than 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is ranked one of the country’s top-10 most influential brands.
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