MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Walmart it has embarked on what it called a "hiring spree" in Canada, including its pharmacies.
The discount store giant said Monday that Walmart Canada is opening 47 hiring centers nationwide to support the company’s growth plans and employment of new talent. Plans call for the retailer to complete at least 73 new-store, expansion, remodel or relocation projects by Jan. 31, 2013.
Included in the projects are most of the 39 former Zellers stores whose leasehold rights Walmart Canada purchased in June 2011, according to Walmart. Those locations are slated to reopen as Walmart stores in the current fiscal year.
Walmart Canada, which has more than 330 supercenters and discount stores, noted that its pharmacies are also engaged in a significant hiring phase.
"We have already hired many pharmacy associates that previously worked for Zellers and are looking to fill additional positions," Eric Muir, senior vice president of health and wellness for Walmart Canada, said in a statement.
Walmart Canada said it has already hired 900 new staff this year — ranging from sales associates to managers for new positions in its stores across the country to field operations and home office positions — and will staff another 3,100 new positions. It’s expected that by Jan. 31, Walmart Canada will employ 94,000 associates.
