Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 05, 2009 12:00 PM
One of Vernon’s largest retailers is even bigger. Walmart officially opened its newly expanded super centre Friday, with the store going from 106,000-square-feet to150,000-square-feet. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful store,” said Jeff Dyck, acting manager. The additional space consists of bakery, meat and produce departments, on top of the other services Walmart has provided since opening in 2001. “We can now provide one-stop shopping,” said Dyck. Among the first shoppers to navigate the produce department was John Polnik. “It’s overwhelming. It’s very nice,” he said of the new surroundings and the product selection.
The number of employees has gone from 225 to 348. This is Walmart’s 73rd super centre in Canada, and Dyck inists Vernon was an obvious choice for the retail concept. “The Interior is growing and the needs of the community are growing,” he said. “The company looked at the population and the potential to grow.” The expanded Walmart comes at the same time that Cooper’s has just opened a new location and Vernon has a strong grocery sector. “There will always be competition coming in but we believe we have the right business model for success,” said Dyck. Mayor Wayne Lippert believes the larger Walmart will bolster the local economy. “Any time you see an expansion and it keeps people employed, that’s a sign of confidence in the community,” he said. “If a company like Walmart has confidence, that sends out a message to other businesses. It shows we have a lot to offer.”
As part of the official opening, Walmart presented $3,500 each to the Salvation Army food bank, the North Okanagan Hospice Society and the SPCA. “We raise funds to reach out to others,” said Dyck.
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