2022 Impact Report

Walmart Canada continues to invest in the latest technology throughout our supply chain, from our stores and e-commerce site to our fleet, distribution and fulfilment centres. We’re always striving to boost productivity, improve ease for our associates, and provide a seamless, more personalized, fast and convenient shopping experience for our customers.

Our fleet has a high safety rating and an accident incidence rate of less than one per million kilometres. In 2022, we were named the safest large fleet by the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada.

In September, we opened a new fulfilment centre in Rocky View County, near Calgary, AB. The centre uses robotics technology — a Walmart first — to increase efficiency as we process orders for in-store pickup or to ship directly to customers. 

Our distribution centres, where products arrive before being sent on to stores, also benefit from our commitment to innovation. In April, we opened our most advanced grocery distribution centre ever, in Surrey, BC. The 300,000-square-foot facility was built vertically on about half the landmass required for a traditional building of this kind. 

Between Surrey and our new, $56-million distribution centre in Moncton, NB, we created hundreds of jobs. 

At Walmart, we lead not only by embracing new technology, but by developing it. Our network of Walmart Global Tech hubs builds digital tools for the benefit of Walmart’s 230 million customers worldwide. In March 2022, Walmart Inc. announced it would expand the network with a new site in Toronto. Initial hires will include 45 full-time roles with hundreds more to be added over time. 

In 2022, we put $330 million toward revamping and refreshing 80 stores from Port Alberni, BC, to Carbonear, NL — the most stores we’ve ever renovated in a year. The work provided more than 2,500 trade and construction jobs across the country.  

Deploying the latest technology to make associates’ jobs easier, with improved efficiency and accuracy, is a key priority for this investment. We’ve integrated computer vision AI technology with our existing inventory systems to automatically detect availability concerns — such as low-stock or out-of-stock items — and alert store teams. 

In April 2022, we introduced lightweight, wearable scanners to help associates by freeing up both their hands to pick online grocery orders. There’s even technology at our Scarborough West Walmart Supercentre in Ontario that allows associates to pick orders five times faster than on a regular sales floor.

We brought in live tracking for deliveries from both Walmart Canada and third-party services, allowing customers to view the driver’s location and get an ETA in real time. Driver information is included so customers can see exactly who will deliver their online order. 

We’ve also improved the experience for Walmart.ca customers: 

Our online Marketplace has seen exponential growth since its launch in 2017. And now, Marketplace sellers can offer two-day shipping or in-store pickup through Walmart Fulfilment Services. For the first time, it gives sellers access to our shipping and delivery operation. Customers can also return most Marketplace items in-store under our standard return policy. With the extension of these services, we’re helping Marketplace sellers grow their businesses. 

We are the fastest-growing private brand retailer in the country, thanks to the masterminds at Walmart Brands, who have a special knack for creating and marketing products our customers love. They won national awards in 2022 for their Great Value 100% Superfine Almond Flour, Your Fresh Market Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli, Great Value Sliced Kiwi, Our Finest Red Leicester Cheese and Great Value Disinfecting Wet Mop Cloths.

We know the communities we serve are diverse and so are their needs and tastes. We have proudly responded to an increase in demand for international foods as newcomers drive the country’s population growth. With our Store of the Community program, we assess each market’s cultural mix and meet its needs with a tailored product assortment. 

We’re also striving to ensure all our customers see themselves reflected in the beauty products we sell. At our first-ever Beauty Summit, we sought out brands that offer unique products and a commitment to inclusivity. Some of our new brands, such as UOMA by Sharon C, Prideful, and Lottie London, are exclusive to Walmart, and several are owned and founded by women, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Walmart is a worldwide operation firmly invested in Canada — and we’re trusted here. In 1994, Walmart Canada launched with 122 stores, and 28 years later, we’re 400+ stores strong, with a leading e-commerce site and distribution network that together employ more than 100,000 people.  

At Walmart Canada, we keep the wellbeing of our customers top of mind as we look for more ways to help them save money so they can live better. That’s why we’re providing our communities with greater access to education and tools to help them manage their overall health. 

We’ve partnered with Diabetes Canada to drive awareness and education about the disease through our pharmacists, opticians and Walmart Wellness Days, when we provide free access to screening for type 2 diabetes. 

In 2022, we also signed an agreement that will see 11 Jack Nathan Health medical clinics open in our stores. The independent clinics provide family and urgent care medical services, specialty medical programs and paramedical services including MedSpa and Rehab.

We offer a wide range of financial services, including the Walmart Rewards Mastercard, which allows customers to earn rewards wherever they use the card, to redeem at Walmart Canada, saving them money.

Our Walmart Protection Plans provide worry-free coverage on purchases. And now we’re partnered with Western Union to offer online money transfers for everyday low fees, so customers can conveniently send money worldwide.