Wal-Mart Canada to open or expand 25-27 Canadian stores by Jan. 2009

THE CANADIAN PRESS
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Wal-Mart Canada says it plans to open or expand 25 to 27 stores by the end of its current fiscal year in January 2009.

The discount retailer says more than half of the projects will be new stores and most of those will be new super centres.

About one third of all projects will see existing discount stores expanded or relocated to become super centres.

Wal-Mart Canada says the expansion will result in 6,000 new in-store jobs for a total of more than 80,000 across the country.

The giant retailer says the expansion will also create some 5,000 spinoff jobs in construction and other trades.

The retailer currently has 32 super centres in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and recently opened its 300th store in Mississauga, Ont.

© The Canadian Press, 2008