Recession? What recession? Walmart Canada says it plans to open 35-40 more Supercentre store formats this year. The total investment, says the mammoth retailer, will be almost half-a-billion dollars, and will generate close to 6,500 new jobs.

While most of these will include store relocations, expansions, and remodels, the projects will also include approx. eight brand new store openings. Specific locations will be announced over the coming months.

The concept behind Walmart's Supercentre format, which launched in 2006, is to provide general merchandise as well as groceries under one roof.

"The combination of one-stop shopping and low prices that our supercentres provide has been embraced by our customers," says David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada. "We look forward to bringing this popular format to a new range of shoppers."

By the end of 2010, Walmart will be operating as many as 325 stores in Canada, 124 of which will be under the Supercentre format.

In related news, Walmart is investing in its first sustainable refrigerated distribution centre in Balzac, AB this Fall. It is expected to be the most energy efficient distribution facility of its kind in North America. It will include a pilot of fuel cell technology, and will be approximately 60% more energy efficient than the retailer's traditional refrigerated distribution centres.

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