Walmart kicks off the new year with the opening of three new supercentres in British Columbia

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - After completing its fiscal year on January 31 with 400 stores, including 312 supercentres, Walmart Canada announced today the opening of three new Walmart Supercentres, formerly Target locations, in British Columbia. The supercentres are located in Coquitlam, Delta and Surrey and represent an investment of tens of millions of dollars, more than 378,000 square feet of retail space and close to 1,000 construction and trade and in-store jobs. With today's announcement, Walmart now has 44 stores total in British Columbia, including 38 supercentres employing more than 10,400 Canadians. 

One-stop shopping
Walmart Supercentres were first introduced in Canada in late 2006 and were built upon Walmart Canada's traditionally strong general merchandise selection of fashion, electronics, home and health and beauty. With the addition of a full grocery section, including fresh produce, meat and baked goods, supercentres have become a Canadian-favourite format. 

"It's been 10 years since we opened our first supercentres in Canada, and Canadians now recognize Walmart as a grocery destination," said Lee Tappenden, chief operations officer at Walmart Canada. "Carrying up to 120,000 products, our supercentres offer an impressive selection of merchandise and value for families, who appreciate and rely on Walmart's low prices every day and the convenience of one-stop shopping."

Commitment to local
Walmart Supercentres carry Canadian No. 1 grade fruits and vegetables such as B.C.-grown carrots, onions and potatoes, and the goal is to carry all available seasonal local produce.  Walmart supercentres also carry an expanded selection of organic produce and Canadian-certified organic products like Great Value Organics. Fresh meats include 100% Canadian Angus beef, chicken, pork and salmon and all fresh groceries come with a 100% satisfaction, money back guarantee.

The supercentre projects in Coquitlam, Delta and Surrey are also a vote of confidence in the provincial market. Combined, these projects represent an investment of close to $20 million dollars, more than 500 in-store jobs, 450 trade and construction jobs, and new opportunities for local suppliers.

Community giving
To celebrate today's grand openings, Walmart will donate thousands of dollars to a number of local charities.  This is in addition to a $50,000 donation made to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in December to help meet the growing demand for healthy, nutritious food to those most in need in B.C. Walmart is committed to supporting Canadian families in need. Through fundraising and matching grants, since 1994, the company has raised and donated $250 million to Canadian charities.

Leader in sustainability
Walmart's supercentre design features LED exterior signage, sandwich bales to divert waste from landfill sites, high efficiency coolers and freezers, to name just a few. As of February 9, the company stopped providing free plastic bags to customers in B.C. in an effort to promote the use of reusable bags and ultimately eliminate plastic film from landfill. "This initiative has been very well received in B.C.," added Tappenden. "Feedback from both customers and associates has been very positive. Whether we're challenging vendors to reduce packaging, eliminating waste in our stores, or showcasing environmentally preferable products for customers, we're committed more than ever to achieving zero waste." 

A big welcome
The celebration continues on Saturday, February 27 with a grand opening party. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., customers will enjoy fun family activities, live music, and samples.

Fast Facts
Coquitlam Walmart Supercentre

• Coquitlam Centre Mall, 2929 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam
• 115,965 square feet
• 150 trade and construction jobs and approximately 175 in-store jobs created
• Services and complementary businesses: pharmacy, medical clinic, photo centre, Western Union
• Store hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week

Delta Walmart Supercentre

• Scottsdale Centre, 7155 120^th St., Delta
• 114,686 square feet
• 150 trade and construction jobs and approximately 130 in-store jobs created
• Services and complementary businesses: pharmacy, medical clinic, photo centre, Western Union
• Store hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week

Surrey Central Walmart Supercentre

• Central City Shopping Centre, 2151-10153 King George Blvd., Surrey
• 147,435 square feet
• 150 trade and construction jobs and approximately 200 in-store jobs created
• Services and complementary businesses: pharmacy, medical clinic, photo centre, Western Union
• Store hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, walmart.ca is visited by 600,000 customers daily. With 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.

SOURCE Walmart Canada

Felicia Fefer, Walmart Canada, [email protected].