Wal-Mart unveils plans to open up to 14 supercentres in 2007

Discount department store Wal-Mart said Tuesday it plans to open as many as 14 more supercentres in Canada in 2007, adding to the three scheduled to open this week.

Mario Pilozzi, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Canada, said the company will invest between $15 and $20 million in each store. Pilozzi declined to say where the stores will be located, since municipal approvals are still being considered.

Wal-Mart will officiallyopen its first three Ontario supercentres in Ancaster, London and Stouffville on Wednesday. The supercentres, which are about 30 per cent larger than a normal Wal-Mart, will carry traditional home and family merchandise along with an extensive line of groceries including natural and organic products.

"Groceries are a golden opportunity for Wal-Mart to put money back in our customers' pockets," Pilozzi said in a release.

The new stores will stock about 120,000 products compared to the 80,000 carried in traditional Wal-Marts.

Canadian grocers have been diversifying their product lines in anticipation of the launch of the Wal-Mart supercentres but retail analysts havebeen making grim forecasts.

"How much of a bloodbath Loblaws, Sobeys … can afford nobody knows," retail analyst Richard Talbot told CBC News last month.