Walmart Canada announced Tuesday it is bringing its superstore brand into the Maritimes this year but there’s no word yet on whether Charlottetown is on the list.
Susan Schutta, senior director of corporate affairs, told The Guardian on Tuesday that they haven’t made any decisions with regards to location.
The Guardian was told by more than one person that survey crews were out looking at the parking lot between Walmart and Home Depot but Schutta said even if the chain goes as far as applying for a permit for a particular location it doesn’t necessarily mean that location will be converted into a superstore.
As of Tuesday, Walmart had not applied for a permit from the City of Charlottetown.
The giant retail chain has plans to complete at least 37 supercentre conversions before the end of January 2014. The company also announced it will be expanding its distribution network to support its ongoing store growth and expansion plans.
In addition to what Walmart offers at its Charlottetown location now, a supercenter would also include an entire grocery store component featuring fresh produce, meats, baked goods and other products
“We’re truly delighted to be adding a full grocery section to more locations across the country, including the opening of our first supercenters in the Maritimes,’’ Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada, said in a news release issued to The Guardian.
Schutta said they will have more specific information about which locations will include the supercentre later this year.
In order to do that, Walmart Canada would need to participate in the municipal approval process and talk to contractors.
Schutta also told The Guardian that Walmart first needs to develop a regional distribution system to handle fresh groceries.
Dan Shaw, with the Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University in Halifax, told a Halifax newspaper that the talk in business circles is that Walmart wants to open at least 10 supercentres in the Maritimes.
twitter.com/DveStewart
