Walmart Canada is investing nearly $1 billion this fiscal year as part of a multi-year modernization plan which includes unveiling its Store of the Future in Mississauga with its first Health Hub.
“Walmart Canada has an ambition to be the most trusted retailer for Canadians. This is what we’ve worked towards for the last 30 years and it’s why we continue to invest, including nearly $1 billion this year, to build an even more efficient, consistent and reliable omnichannel experience for Canadians,” said Gonzalo Gebara, President and CEO, Walmart Canada. “We’re excited to welcome our customers into our modernized stores and for them to experience the future of Walmart Canada, no matter how they choose to shop with us.”
These investments mark the midpoint in the five-year timeframe of the retailer’s major $3.5 billion investment in store infrastructure and customer experience transformation, first announced in July 2020.
Walmart Canada’s future flagship location, the Square One Walmart Supercentre in Mississauga, Ontario, is the retailer’s largest store by square foot and one of its largest capital investments in a single store according to a company statement.
With improvements already underway, this Store of the Future will act as a prototype for omnichannel retail innovation. Modernization plans include immersive retail experiences to enhance in-store shopping for customers. This transformation will begin in electronics where traditional product cases will be replaced by open displays allowing for hands-on interactions. Customers will be able to see product availability in real-time, scan a QR code to place their order and experience immediate on-site delivery by an associate, facilitated by automation.
New Walmart Health Hub will centralize pharmacy, vision centre and medical clinic into one area, providing a one-stop shop for health and wellness needs, supported by the company’s new pharmacy app. The retailer says that Square One’s Walmart Health hub is the first of its kind in Canada and is a window to the future of how Walmart Canada will strive to enhance access to affordable, personalized healthcare.
An expanded omnichannel operations area provides dedicated space for associates to pick, pack and stage customer orders- creating more availability for pickup and delivery slots for customers.
The retailer says its stores in Rexdale, Mississauga (Erin Mills, Square One) and Newmarket in Ontario; Kirkland and Montreal Nord in Quebec and Kamloops in British Columbia will experience the most significant transformations.
In August, the retailer also opened a brand new, 140,000 square-foot Supercentre in Montreal, Quebec’s Marché Central shopping centre.
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Its online store, Walmart.ca, is visited by more than 1.5 million customers daily.
