By the numbers: Walmart and Target expansions in Canada

TORONTO – Walmart Canada will continue to expand its presence over the next year, which will mark the arrival of its main U.S. rival – Target.

Global News takes a by the numbers look at Walmart and Target expansions in Canada.

• Walmart says the expansion projects will create more than 7,000 new store, trade and construction jobs. And it will open its first supercentres in the Maritimes.
• As of January 31, Walmart Canada will have 379 stores, including 209 supercentres.
• The latest Walmart expansion announcement is expected to bring the company’s store count across Canada to 388 by the end of January 2014.
• The retailer will grand open 9 supercentres this Friday. The final two stores included with the 73 store projects planned for the current fiscal year will grand open on January 31.
• According to Walmart, each stores carries close to 100,000 different products ranging from apparel and home decor to electronics and grocery, plus specialty services such as pharmacies, garden centres, and vision centres.
• Over 250,000 Canadians visit Walmart on a daily basis
• In January 2011, Target® Corporation announced it has agreed to pay C$1.825 billion to purchase from Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).
• Target expects to open 100 to 150 Target stores throughout Canada in 2013 and 2014.
• Currently, there are 65 Target stores across Canada. Some, in Alberta, are under construction.
• According to Target, renovation of leased sites will result in an aggregate investment of more than C$1 billion.
 

– with files from Postmedia News