Walmart Canada to Invest $1 billion in Major Infrastructure Investments
September 21, 2022Cornwall Ontario – Walmart Canada is investing $1 billion in infrastructure this year as part of the retailer’s efforts to speed up and transform the business for its customers.
A cornerstone of the investment includes more than $100 million to build a new high-tech sortable fulfillment centre east of Cornwall in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec – the first of its kind for Walmart in the province. The new facility, slated to open in early 2024, will offer better product availability and quicker service for customers choosing to shop in-store or online at Walmart.ca.
The new fulfillment will complement the existing Walmart Logistics Hub in the Cornwall Business Park, which includes 2 buildings encompassing over 3 million square feet and employing over 2000 people. Vaudreil-Dorion is approximately 70km east of Cornwall.
This year’s $1 billion investment also includes plans to update and remodel a record number of stores in a year. Store changes include modernizing and upgrading physical spaces with a focus on improving the customer experience both in-store and online.
These projects are all part of Walmart Canada’s multi-year $3.5 billion investment to make the online and in-store shopping experience simpler, faster and more convenient for customers as the retailer invests for continued growth to help more Canadians save money and live better. Some of the enhancements include:
- Expanding product assortment and offering an upgraded look and feel.
- Integrating more dedicated omnichannel spaces for more online orders.
- Refreshing interiors and exteriors, including fresh paint and new signage.
- Adding LED lighting to key departments to enhance the interior experience.
- Updating associate lounge areas, including new couches and other upgrades.
- Renovating washroom areas, including new tiling and sustainability features.
- Replacing and upgrading legacy systems with new technology and applications.
“We know these are challenging times for our customers. That’s why we are proud to be making significant investments in Canada to deliver the very best shopping experience,” said JP Suarez, Executive Vice President, Chief Administration Office and Regional CEO for Walmart International, who is also leading Walmart Canada on an interim basis. “We are building a better Walmart Canada to help more Canadians save money and live better. As the cost of living rises, Canadians can trust Walmart to be that convenient, one-stop shop for everyday low prices.”
The Quebec fulfillment centre will be approximately 457,000 square feet in size, serving as a delivery hub for millions of customer orders in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The facility will be built by the Harden Group, and powered by cutting-edge logistics technology to achieve productivity with less physical effort by using innovative technology.
About the Cornwall Distribution Hub
Walmart’s Cornwall Distribution Hub is comprised of two large buildings, the Harmony Distribution Centre and the Regional Distribution Centre. Both buildings, measuring 1.5 million sq.ft. each, are located in the Cornwall Business Park. The Harmony Distribution Centre handles fresh produce, dairy and meat products that form the core of Walmart’s growing grocery business. It also houses Walmart fleet operations, along with dealing with imported goods and high velocity items. Together, the Harmony and Regional Distribution Centre form a Cornwall campus that handles over 500,000 packages a day.
Available Jobs
Current job postings from Walmart Canada and Walmart Logistics can be viewed on the ChooseCornwall.ca Job Board.
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About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada’s flagship online store, Walmart.ca, is visited by more than 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is ranked one of the country’s top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada was recently recognized as a LinkedIn Top Company of 2022 and was also named one of Canada’s most popular brands (based on Google searches). Walmart Canada has made a commitment to regeneration – focusing on equitable opportunity, sustainability, community, ethics and integrity. Since 1994, Walmart Canada has raised over $500 million to support communities across Canada. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca