Trail Walmart to expand to become a SuperCentre

The Trail store is expected to start its renovations right away. — Andrew Davidson photo

The US-based retailer Walmart will convert 20 of its stores into supercentres by adding a grocery section—this includes the company's store in Trail.

The expansion at the Trail store will see the Lube and Oil section close and the space be replaced by a full-line grocery department.

Walmart Canada says it also plans to expand seven stores and open two new ones this fiscal year in the Canadian market.

Walmart Canada estimates the cost at $230 million, with an additional investment of $75 million to expand its distribution network and $35 million on e-commerce initiatives, as it pumps up its Canadian operations on the heels of US retailer Target abandoning the Canadian market.

The expansion will bring Walmart Canada's store count to 396 by the end of January, 2016, consisting of 309 supercentres and 87 discount stores.

"Our mission is to provide multiple access points for customers to save money," said Walmart Canada president and CEO Dirk Van den Berghe.

The renovation project at the Trail store is expected to start right away.