Sponsored By

Walmart steps up investment in Canadian stores

Upgrades focus on grocery, omnichannel shopping experience

Russell Redman

October 11, 2018

3 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Grocery is a linchpin of a $175 million investment by Walmart to upgrade its Canadian store network for a better omnichannel experience.

Walmart Canada said Thursday that it plans to refurbish or update 23 stores by February to create a “seamless intersection” of in-store and online shopping.

Walmart_Canada_fresh_bakery.jpgAs part of that effort, the retailer has opened a new supercenter in Burnaby, British Columbia, that features a large selection of East Asian food. It also recently converted three stores in Newfoundland to supercenters, making that format and its fresh grocery offering available in every province.

Physical updates bring a new look and feel to the stores, including wider aisles, a refreshed color palette, new signage and, at some locations, a revamped storefront design to provide clearer access, Walmart Canada said.

To optimize the omnichannel experience, the stores will feature dedicated parking spaces for online grocery pickup and new interior areas that facilitate the interaction of e-commerce and brick-and-mortar operations to process online orders faster.

Customers also will find an expanded product assortment, including new ethnic and organic items, which will “further integrate stores into the community,” according to the company.  

"This investment in our stores is part of our commitment to provide our customers with an improved in-store shopping experience. We are modernizing our stores, ensuring a seamless omnichannel shopping experience and meeting evolving customer needs," Walmart Canada President and CEO Lee Tappenden said in a statement. 

Related:Walmart Canada launches sustainable grocery delivery

"As we move into 2019, we'll continue to invest in more store remodels, including new and creative concepts in key urban stores,” he added.

The stores being updated include 11 locations in Ontario, four in Alberta, three in Newfoundland, two in British Columbia, two in Quebec and one in Manitoba.

The new retail store investment builds on other initiatives under way, Walmart Canada said. For example, the company plans to roll out Walmart Grocery Pickup to 73 more stores in 2018, which will lift the number of click-and-collect stores to 165 by the end of the year.

Last month, Walmart Canada kicked off pilots of same-day grocery delivery at 12 stores in the Toronto area and five stores in Winnipeg under a new partnership with Instacart. The companies said Instacart delivery will be introduced at Walmart Canada stores in more markets based on customer engagement and use of the platform.

Also in September, Walmart Canada launched a sustainable online grocery delivery service in metropolitan Vancouver through Food-X Urban Delivery Inc., which is part of Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Inc. (SPUD), one of Canada’s largest online grocery companies.

Related:Walmart Canada teams up with Instacart

Other efforts by Walmart Canada include the construction of a $175 million fulfillment center in Surrey, B.C., and plans to transition 100% of its fleet to alternative power by 2028.

"Walmart Canada is committed to helping Canadians shop when they want, how they want and where they want," Tappenden commented. 

Overall, Walmart Canada operates 411 stores and serves more than 1.2 million customers daily. The Walmart.ca online store is visited by more than 750,00 customers per day.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like