Walmart Canada’s first distribution centre in Atlantic Canada, a state-of-the-art, 221,000-square-foot facility in Moncton. (Courtesy Walmart)

Walmart Canada has announced it is building its first distribution centre in Atlantic Canada, a state-of-the-art, 221,000-square-foot facility in Moncton.

The centre will sit on a 19-acre plot of land at 125 Frenette Ave., and is slated to open in the fall of 2022. Walmart says it will provide about 200 jobs.

“Walmart Canada is delighted to be building our first distribution centre in Atlantic Canada in Moncton,” said John Bayliss, executive vice-president, transformation officer for Walmart Canada, in the announcement Thursday morning. “We’re developing a world-class supply chain that prioritizes our customers. The better and stronger the supply chain, the quicker our customers can get the products they want in our stores and online.”

Walmart (WMT-N) says its investment in the project will be in excess of $56 million. The distribution centre is part of Walmart Canada’s $3.5-billion investment over the next five years across the country.

Reduce trucking distances

The centre will provide fresh and frozen groceries for Walmart’s 43 Atlantic Canada stores, which the company says will facilitate better product availability and quicker service for both in-store and online customers.

The centre will also decrease long-haul trucking distances delivering products to Walmart’s store network, eliminating “millions of kilometres” from the supply chain annually.

“Walmart’s decision to locate its Eastern Canadian Distribution Centre here in Moncton is a both welcome news and a recognition of the city and province’s growth advantage,” said New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs in the announcement. “The importance of supply chains is well understood after the past year of upheaval.

“Moncton and its vast supply chain apparatus of distribution centres, excellent roads, rail connection, air links as well as top-calibre people have helped keep the region going.”

The centre will feature a number of sustainability features, including an Energy Star white reflective roof; energy efficient LED lighting with integrated motion sensors and intelligent controls; the incorporation of natural refrigerants; and efficient and longer lasting lithium-ion electric material handling equipment.

As well, waste heat generated from the refrigeration system will be reclaimed and used to supply underfloor heating systems.

The distribution centre becomes the third which is currently under development in Canada.

Walmart is also building in Surrey, B.C., and in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. The B.C. facility is to open in 2022, the GTA facility in 2024.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart.ca is visited by more than 900,000 customers daily.

With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is ranked one of the country’s top-10 most influential brands.