Look what's opening downtown tomorrow!

NEWS RELEASE

WALMART CANADA

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Former Zellers location to reopen as a Walmart Supercentre on Friday, October 12

SAULT STE. MARIE - Walmart Canada will open its new Sault Ste. Marie South Walmart Supercentre, located at 293 Bay Street in Station Mall on Friday, October 12.

Local officials and media are invited to attend the formal grand opening at 7 am.

Doors will open to the public at 8 am.

“This store has an atypical footprint for a Walmart,” said Store Manager Jake Pritchard. “We worked with the existing footprint to design the store to fit the space and look and feel like a typical Walmart. We hope that everyone who used to shop here when it was a Zellers will be happy with the changes to the store and merchandise assortment, and of course, our low prices.”

The Sault Ste. Marie South Walmart Supercentre is one of 73 projects planned for the company's current fiscal year, which will add 4.6 million square feet of retail space to its operations by January 31, 2013.

The 73 projects include building new stores and expanding, remodelling or relocating existing stores and represent an investment of more than $750 million in Canadian communities.

Included in these projects are 39 former Zellers stores.

The 73 projects are expected to generate more than 14,000 store, trade and construction jobs.

One-stop shopping

The 67,000 square foot supercentre will offer a full line of groceries including a bakery, deli, meat and dairy products, fresh produce as well traditional departments such as electronics, home and apparel, creating a one-stop shopping destination dedicated to everyday low prices.

Convenience services include a pharmacy, connection centre for wireless services, and Western Union.

Customers will also appreciate the store's updated design, which includes easy-to-navigate aisles with directional signage, and a bright interior colour palette, which help define the store's merchandise areas, and lower shelving throughout for an improved sightline.

New jobs

The Sault Ste. Marie South Supercentre employs more than 100 associates.

To fill these positions, Walmart received more than 1,000 applications for roles such as cashiers, sales associates, and other hourly positions.

Commitment to sustainability

Walmart continues to show its responsibility to energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

The store features LED exterior signage, waste diversion streams including paper and plastic and sells environmentally-preferable products.

Community involvement

As part of Walmart's mission to helping Canadian families in need, $2,000 in donations will be presented to community organizations.

The store will build on these donations with additional charitable and community support and fundraising throughout the year.

Block party

Grand opening festivities will continue on Saturday.

The store will be hosting its Grand Opening Block Party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Customers can enjoy refreshments and samples.

New store manager

Jake Pritchard is excited to lead the Sault Ste. Marie South Supercentre team as the new store manager.

Pritchard has worked in retail for more than 14 years.

He is eager to begin working with local community groups and projects.

By the numbers

The Sault Ste. Marie South store

• 100 associates
• 1,000 job applications received
• 67,000 square feet of retail space

Across Canada

• 4,000 new positions created at Walmart Canada this year.
• 73 projects in the company's expansion plan this fiscal year (ending January 31, 2013)
• $750 million invested for the 73 projects
• 30 of 73 projects completed to date (including this store)
• 161discount stores and 187 supercentres 348 Walmart stores total in Canada
• $15.4 billon paid to Canadian suppliers in 2011

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada was established in 1994 with the acquisition of the Woolco chain.

Over the past 18 years, Walmart Canada has more than doubled the number of stores in Canada and more than tripled the number of associates, creating a strong, stable retail chain which offers career opportunities.

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of discount stores and supercentres with 348 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each day.

With 90,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada's top 10 corporate cultures.

Walmart Canada is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $160 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.

Find us here

Corporate Site: walmartcanada.ca
Corporate Social Responsibility: walmartcsr.ca
Shop: walmart.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/walmartcanada
Twitter: twitter.com/WalmartCanada

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