Walmart Canada Unveils Landmark Spending Plan

Walmart says it is investing billions in its store and supply chain footprint in Canada over the next five years.

“Walmart Canada is on an ambitious growth journey to serve even more Canadians — better and differently than ever before,” says Gui Loureiro, regional CEO of Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico and Central America. “This $6.5 billion investment is the largest we’ve made since we first arrived here 30 years ago.”

The retailer will build dozens of stores across the country, beginning with two new supercentres in Ontario, in Port Credit and Oakville, both to open by year’s end. Three additional supercentres are expected to open in Alberta by 2027, in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

Before then, its newest distribution centre in Vaughan, Ont., will open, slated for this spring.

Walmart has also announced it is teaming up with another Canadian company that’s in growth mode. Canada Cartage, the country’s largest provider of fleet services, will buy Walmart Canada’s fleet business.

“Canada Cartage has deep expertise in providing dedicated fleet services and has been serving Canadian businesses for more than 110 years,” says Matt Kelly, vice-president of supply chain at Walmart Canada. “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.”

Since 2020, Walmart has invested $3.5 billion in Canada, to modernize more than 180 stores, including the transformation of its Square One shopping centre store in Mississauga, Ont., into its flagship location. It has also opened four brand-new stores and three distribution centres, excluding the one in Vaughan, and one fulfillment centre.

Last year, the company spent $200 million in wage increases for frontline workers, as part of its journey to invest in associates’ long-term success and growth through a combination of higher wages, leading benefit plans, skills training and educational opportunities.

“We’re incredibly proud of how we’ve continued to invest in our people to help them grow with us as we better serve Canadians as a people-led, omnichannel retailer,” says AnnMarie Mercer, chief people officer at Walmart Canada. “These investments are ongoing and an important part of how we continue to attract and retain our amazing associates to build the workforce of the future.”