Wal-Mart Stores to create 6,500 jobs, open 35 to 40 supercenters in Canada in 2010

Wal-Mart to open up to 40 supercenters in Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday it will open 35 to 40 Wal-Mart supercenters in Canada this year.

A spokesman for the world’s largest retailer said that more than half of the locations will be entirely new stores or relocations and expansions. The remainder will be renovations of existing store layouts.

Wal-Mart said expansion will cost almost $500 million.

The projects are expected to create 2,000 jobs in construction and 4,500 employee positions at the retail stores, said Wal-Mart spokesman Andrew Pelletier.

Wal-Mart said the additions will bring its total number of stores in Canada to 325, which includes 124 supercenters. It already employs more than 70,000 people in Canada.

Wal-Mart, which is based in Bentonville, Ark., has been slowly rolling out its supercenters in Canada. The concept combines its traditional retail layout with a wide array of food items, including produce and dairy. The supercenters are intended to lure consumers away from supermarkets.

That puts the American retail giant in direct competition with Canadian grocery chains Loblaw, Metro and Sobey’s. For their part, the Canadian chains have been introducing general merchandise into their selling spaces in a bid to remain competitive with Wal-Mart and other big-box retailers.

Earlier this month, Wal-Mart announced separate plans to open a refrigerated distribution center in Alberta in the fall, creating 1,400 jobs.