Walmart has announced plans to place a full-service grocery service within its store here.
Renovations are being timed to introduce a full line of food items by late this year.
“Once the renovations are complete, the store will offer a full line of groceries including bakery goods, deli, meat and dairy products as well as fresh produce,” said Walmart official Rosalyn Carneiro.
The footprint of the Walmart store here, called a discount store because it does not sell a full line of groceries, won’t be expanded, she added.
“The store is being remodelled, but not expanded. No exterior walls are being touched. All of the work is done within the existing stores. Departments are moved around to accommodate the addition of food,” said Caneiro.
Once renovations are done, the store will be known as a Walmart Supercentre, she said.
As it is, the Terrace Walmart already sells dairy, canned goods and other basic non-perishable grocery items.
The expansion here into a full grocery service is part of a concerted effort by Walmart to expand its market share across the country.
In all, it is spending about $376 million on 35 projects to add food to current stores and to build six new stores.
Walmart is also expanding its e-commerce division with more online sales options.
At last count in B.C. there were 29 Supercentres and 10 discount stores, part of a total 390 Walmarts in Canada.
The closest Walmart store to the one in Terrace is a discount Walmart located in Prince Rupert and the next closest is a Walmart store in Prince George.