Walmart Canada is investing $175 million, creating 2,500 construction jobs to renovate 23 of its stores across the country, including four in Alberta.
The company said on Thursday that several stores will be refurbished or updated “to provide a comprehensive omni-channel experience featuring a seamless intersection of the in-store and online shopping experience.”
The stores are set for renovation before February.
The four stores in Alberta are located in Edmonton (Capilano), Okotoks, Olds and Red Deer.
“This investment in our stores is part of our commitment to provide our customers with an improved in-store shopping experience,” said Lee Tappenden, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. “We are modernizing our stores, ensuring a seamless omni-channel shopping experience and meeting evolving customer needs.”
The company said enhancements customers can expect to see in their local stores include:
- Contemporary updates: Physical updates that provide a refreshed look and feel, including wider aisles, updated colour palette, new signage, and, in some stores, an updated exterior storefront design to provide clearer access.
- Optimized omni-channel experience: Creating seamless integration of online shopping and in-store experience for omni-channel customers. Updated features include dedicated parking spaces for online grocery pickup and new areas in stores devoted to online orders to help facilitate the interaction between Walmart Canada’s e-commerce and bricks and mortar operations.
- Expanded assortment: Adding more product assortments to further integrate stores into the community, including new ethnic selections and organics.
“Walmart Canada is committed to helping Canadians shop when they want, how they want and where they want,” said Tappenden. “As we move into 2019, we’ll continue to invest in more store remodels, including new and creative concepts in key urban stores.”
The company has said before that it’s also expanding Walmart’s grocery pickup service to 73 new stores this year, bringing the total number of stores offering the service to 165 by year’s end. And it’s building a $175-million state-of-the-art fulfillment centre in Surrey, B.C.
Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran Calgary-based journalist who worked for 35 years for the Calgary Herald, including 12 years as a senior business writer.
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