Walmart Canada announces expansion plans

    --  Retailer will invest $450 million for supercentre and
        distribution centre projects
    --  37 supercentre projects will add 1.4 million square feet of
        retail space
    --  The projects will create more than 7,000 new store, trade and
        construction jobs
    --  First supercentres in Maritmes to open this fiscal year

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Today Walmart Canada announced that it 
plans to complete at least 37 supercentre projects in the company's next 
fiscal year, which runs from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014. The company 
also announced it will be expanding its distribution network to support its 
ongoing store growth and expansion plans.

The distribution centre projects, construction of new stores, and expansion, 
remodelling or relocation of existing stores represents an investment of more 
than $450 million in the Canadian economy. These expansion plans are expected 
to generate more than 7,000 store, trade and construction jobs.

"Our associates across the country have done an incredible job this past year 
serving our customers and opening a record number of new stores and 
supercentres," said Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. 
"This year, we are ramping up our focus on lowering prices and helping 
customers lower their cost of living, as we continue to bring our supercentre 
format to more Canadians."

Walmart's supercentres provide Canadians with a one-stop shopping experience. 
Each stores carries close to 100,000 different products ranging from apparel 
and home decor to electronics and grocery, plus specialty services such as 
pharmacies, garden centres, and vision centres. The company will also 
introduce the supercentre format to locations in the Maritimes this year.

"We're truly delighted to be adding a full grocery section to more locations 
across the country, including the opening of our first supercentres in the 
Maritimes," said Ms. Broader. "We look forward to helping our customers 
coast-to-coast save money on groceries as well as their general merchandise 
purchases."

The locations for specific store and distribution centre projects will be 
announced as the details for each project are finalized.

As of January 31, 2013, Walmart Canada will have 379 stores, including 209 
supercentres. Today's announcement is expected to bring the company's store 
count to 388 by the end of January, 2014. The retailer will grand open nine 
supercentres this Friday, January 25. The final two stores included with the 
73 store projects planned for the current fiscal year will grand open on 
January 31. Today's announcement is a continuation of the growth rate of 35 to 
40 supercentre projects in Canada for the past several years. FY13 was an 
exceptional year due to the addition of 73 projects which included 39 former 
Zellers locations.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 375 locations nationwide 
serving more than one million customers each day, as well as its flagship 
online store, www.walmart.ca, which is visited by over 250,000 Canadians 
daily. With over 94,000 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. 
Additional company information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, 
facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/@walmartcanada.

Contacts

Susan Schutta, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada at  
905-821-2111 ext. 78012 Carol Schumacher, Vice President of Investor 
Relations, Wal-Mart Stores,  Inc., at 479-277-1498

SOURCE: Walmart Canada

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CO: Walmart Canada
ST: Ontario
NI: RET NP 

-0- Jan/22/2013 11:00 GMT