Walmart bolstered its already considerable consumer presence in Terrace and area this morning by officially opening a full-line grocery section within its existing 112,000 square foot store.
Senior company officials were on hand as was Terrace Churches Food Bank president John Wiebenga who accepted a $4,788 donation as well as a collection of donated food items.
Those senior officials told employees in a ceremony prior to the store opening that the focus of Walmart is on the customer.
“Everything you do out there today is to listen to the customer,” said company district manager Dave Jeffreys.
He said the goal of Walmart in Terrace and area is to offer a one-stop shopping experience.
Jeffreys also praised the efforts of employees and others through renovations which at times experienced minor setbacks because of power outages and one electrical fire.
Terrace store manager Rosemarie Beer noted that this year is the 10th anniversary of Walmart's original opening in Terrace.
“As a team we all pulled together,” she said of last-minute preparations leading to the opening.
The Terrace store is the 269th Walmart in Canada to add a full line of groceries to become a Supercentre, one of 35 such conversions or new construction projects planned across the country for the company's current fiscal year which ends Jan. 31, 2015.
The Terrace store now employs 160 people, up from 120 prior to the addition of groceries, and 100 construction workers were on the job during renovations.