Ontario Construction News staff writer
Walmart Canada and Condor Properties broke ground this week on a new state-of-the-art distribution centre in Vaughan. The project is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs.
On the heels of announcing a major $3.5 billion investment into all aspects of the business, Walmart’s new facility is a next generation 550,000 square foot distribution centre at 11110 Jane Street at Teston Road.
“Our new distribution centre is going to be a world-class facility, which will help us grow and make our business better and simpler for our customers,” said Horacio Barbeito, President and CEO, Walmart Canada. “These are challenging times for everyone, but we are investing for growth because we believe in Ontario and Canada’s future and are proud to do business in this great country.”
The facility is expected to open in 2024, to handle ambient general merchandise and food products. More than 70 million cases of products from more than 3,000 suppliers will flow through this distribution centre annually – the highest volume of any Walmart facility in the country.
The new facility in Vaughan is in addition to a brand new 300,000 square foot distribution centre currently under construction in Surrey, British Columbia. Walmart is also renovating an existing distribution centre in Cornwall.
“This project is a big undertaking, but also a shining example of teamwork, commitment and a solution-driven approach,” said Angelo De Gasperis, founder and principal, Condor Properties.
The distribution centres are part of a suite of investments Walmart Canada is making to generate significant growth and to make the online and in-store shopping experience simpler, faster and more convenient for Walmart’s customers. The investment over the next five years will lead to the use of advanced technologies working alongside associates in a state-of the-art facility to move products as quickly as possible.
Premier Doug Ford attended the ground-breaking ceremony.
“As our province charts a path to recovery, we welcome significant investments like the one Walmart is making in Vaughan, which will create more jobs, get more people back to work, and help our economy recover and grow again,” Ford said.
Condor Properties is a privately owned Vaughan-based real estate development company related to the Con-Drain Group of companies. Principals have over 70 years of experience in land development with core assets presently in the millions of square feet.