Is the expansion of Walmart Supercentres, other American chains that are beneficial to Alberta?

Walmart is the latest American-born dealer with plans to expand in Alberta.

The retail giant announced a $ 6.5 billion project to build dozens of new stores in Canada and three more super centers in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

All three locations are expected to operate in 2027.

“Walmart Canada is on an ambitious growth journey to earn even more Canadians – better and different than ever before,” states a statement from GUI Loureiro, the regional CEO Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico and Central America.

Walmart Canada currently has over 400 stores and more than 100,000 workers in the country.

Paul Messinger, professor of marketing business economics at the University of Alberta, said retailing is wedged between recovering from pandemic losses years later and competing with fast delivery services such as Amazon.

He calls Move Strategic as Walmart competes with other fast growing retailers like Costco and Amazon.

“I think it’s really just a statement that Walmart is going where the company is – and there’s business here in Alberta.”

He believes Walmart has been effective with its expansion compared to other retail stores, such as Target, which did not survive in Canada.

“Walmart has decided that it is worth the risk. It is a significant risk of such a large investment, ”he said. “Six and a half billion dollars are a big part of cash entering Canada.”

Messings said the expansion will be good for Albertans and its finances.

“We have more employment, we buy some of the profits. Some end up in the US. Most people will stay in Canada, I expect, ”he said.

“I didn’t want to worry it stealing money from Canada, but it really shows that Canada is a growth area.”

However, the message is met with the congestion of local shopkeepers.

“We lose the mother-and-pop stores. We lose the small local businesses. These are the companies that create society, ”said Bree Tetz, owner of Repeat Vintage in Leduc, about 20 kilometers south of Edmonton.

Tetz, which sells used clothing, accessories and home decor at affordable prices, says she finds the influx of US retailers-notices those who sell cheaper, rhino-type-merchandise creation of Alberta store.

“Yes, you buy things at half price. Yes, you buy things for less. Yes, you get things fast.

“What you don’t get is the quality.”

Tetz believes that the expansion is part of the course for fast fashion-thinking brick-and-mortar stores such as Zara or H&M or online retailers like Shein or Temu-As she believes damage to consumers.

“They are encouraging overuse. They encourage you to buy more, use less and also get things where you want now, ”Tetz said.

When you shop at small businesses, we curate these products for you. We buy you the best-of-best products. “

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Earlier this week, CBRE, a commercial real estate agency, noticed a tendency for US franchises in fast service to move to Edmonton.

2024 saw the fast relaxed restaurant brands chipotle, Krispy Kreme and Firehouse SUBS all open locations in the city.

CBRE SALE REPRESENTATIVE MATTHEW HANSON SAILED he is not surprised, given the city’s more affordable living costs and population growth compared to the rest of Canada.

Hanson believes there will be EBB and Flow, and an opportunity for large cash shops to hurt local businesses.

While the expansion of large retailers will mean more competition for stores of all sizes, it can also increase sales.

“I would also argue that some of these great centers will attract new talent because they know they would succeed next to it as a synergy relationship,” said Hanson.

Three new Walmart super centers will also be opened in 2025 in Ontario. It is the US company’s biggest investment since they started operating north of the border 30 years ago.

& Copy 2025 Global News, a Department of Corus Entertainment Inc.