First Former Zellers in Quebec to Reopen as a Walmart

    --  Second Zellers location nationwide to reopen as a new store
    --  Unique two-level layout has 40,000 ft(2) per floor--the
        smallest building area for a Walmart in Canada
    --  19(th) of 73 Walmart Canada projects to be completed this
        fiscal year

LAVAL, QC, Sept. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Today at a grand opening ceremony, Walmart 
Canada opened the first Zellers location to reopen under a new banner in 
Quebec. The 80,000 square-foot store located at 400 Dorval Avenue, Dorval is a 
one-stop shopping destination dedicated to every day low prices. A brand new 
format for Walmart in Quebec, at 40,000 square feet per floor, this two-level 
store has the smallest building area for a Walmart in Canada. An escalator 
allows customers and their shopping carts to move between floors.

Customers will appreciate the store's updated design that includes 
easy-to-navigate aisles with directional signage, a bright interior colour 
palette clearly defining the store's merchandise areas as well as lower 
shelving throughout for an improved sightline. In addition, a pharmacy has 
been added to the store.

"We are thrilled to open a new Walmart for our customers in Dorval and the 
surrounding area," said Chantal Glenisson, senior vice president for Walmart 
Quebec. "It is located in a very convenient location and the team has done an 
excellent job planning the merchandise assortment and store layout to make it 
easy for customers to find what they need."

The Dorval store is one of 73 projects planned for the company's current 
fiscal year, which will add 4.6 million square feet of retail space to its 
operations by January 31, 2013, the end of the company's fiscal year. The 73 
projects include building new stores and expanding, remodelling or relocating 
existing stores and represent an investment of more than $750 million in 
Canadian communities. Included in these projects are 39 former Zellers stores. 
The 73 projects are expected to generate more than 14,000 store, trade and 
construction jobs.

"We are very proud of the work our associates have done to prepare this store 
for our customers," said André Tawil, Dorval store manager. "We are really 
looking forward to becoming part of the community, meeting our new customers 
and especially hearing what they think of their new store."

New Jobs

The Dorval Walmart employs 146 associates. Walmart received over 2,000 
applications for these roles, which include cashiers, sales associates, 
management and other hourly positions.

Commitment to sustainability

Walmart continues to show its leadership in the area of energy efficiency, 
renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The new Dorval Walmart 
features LED exterior signage, waste diversion streams including paper and 
plastic and environmentally-preferable products.

Community involvement

As part of Walmart's mission to helping Canadian families in need, $4,000 in 
donations were presented to community organizations today including the Big 
brothers big sisters West Island and La fondation village helping seniors. 
Throughout the year, the Dorval Walmart will provide additional charitable and 
community support through donations and fundraising initiatives.

Facts and Figures

Dorval store
    --  146 associates
    --  Over 2,000 job applications received
    --  57,000 square feet of retail space
    --  80,000 square foot store
    --  40,000 building footprint, the smallest Walmart building
        footprint in Canada
    --  338(th) Walmart Canada store
    --  75,000 products available in store
    --  6 months to renovate to the store

Walmart in Quebec
    --  By January 31, 2013 Walmart Canada will have 64 stores in
        Quebec, including 15 supercentres.
    --  17 Walmart projects planned for Quebec between February 1, 2012

and January 31, 2013: o Construction of two brand new stores* o Renovation or expansion of six stores to include a full grocery

section o Conversion of nine Zellers locations to Walmart stores

* The Laval location on Corbusier Boulevard is being relocated to 2075 Chomedy Boulevard in Laval. This store is also home to Walmart Canada's head office for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Walmart Canada today

    --  1,500 - 8,000 job applications are received for each new
        Walmart store in Canada
    --  4,000 new positions created at Walmart Canada this year
    --  73 projects in the company's expansion plan this fiscal year
        (ending January 31, 2013)
    --  $750 million invested for the 73 projects
    --  19 of 73 projects completed to date (including Dorval)
    --  157 discount stores and 181 supercentres stores with full
        complement of fresh groceries
    --  338 Walmart stores total in Canada (including Dorval) 
    --  As of January 31, 2012 333 Walmart stores
    --  By January 31, 2013, more than 375 Walmart stores
    --  $15.4 billon paid to Canadian suppliers in 2011

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada was established in 1994 with the acquisition of the Woolco 
chain. Over the past 18 years, Walmart Canada has more than doubled the number 
of stores in Canada and more than tripled the number of associates, creating a 
strong, stable retail chain which offers career opportunities.

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of discount stores and supercentres 
with 337 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each 
day. With 90,000 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 is focused on helping 
Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more 
than $160 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.

Alex Roberton, 514 347 4923.

Find us here: Corporate Site: www.walmartcanada.ca Corporate Social 
Responsibility: www.walmartcsr.ca Shop: www.walmart.ca 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walmartcanada Twitter: 
@walmartcanada https://twitter.com/WalmartCanada

Image with caption: "Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with André Tawil, store 
manager and the first customer of the day (CNW Group/Walmart Canada)". Image 
available at:  
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120919_C7723_PHOTO_EN_18104.jpg

Image with caption: "Aliments du Québec (CNW Group/Walmart Canada)". Image 
available at:  
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120919_C7723_PHOTO_EN_18108.jpg

Image with caption: "Customer and shopping cart escalator between floors (CNW 
Group/Walmart Canada)". Image available at:  
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120919_C7723_PHOTO_EN_18118.jpg

SOURCE: Walmart Canada

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: 
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CO: CNW Enriched News Releases
ST: Quebec
NI: RET NP 

-0- Sep/19/2012 16:08 GMT