Walmart has announced plans to launch two new Walmart Global Tech hub locations in both Toronto and Atlanta in an effort to continue accelerating technology and further digital capabilities across the retail sector.
As part of an ongoing strategy to grow its tech presence in Canada, Walmart Global Tech has identified Toronto as a talent-dense market and ideal location to expand its operations.
Walmart already has a strong presence in Toronto and the city is home to 26% of Canada’s tech workforce. Each year, 25,000 students in the area graduate from STEM-related fields.
According to , Walmart’s EVP, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer, they plan to make Toronto one of their major Walmart Global Tech hubs, with plans to create several hundred new tech jobs in the next 12 months – all in support of keeping local talent on Canadian soil.
In the short term, they will begin with 45 full-time associates, primarily software developers, product managers and technical program managers. In addition to the hundreds of jobs Walmart Global Tech is planning in Toronto, Walmart Canada is investing $1 billion in technology and other areas such as refurbishing local stores.
“Canada has a dynamic and world leading tech community powered by talented people and innovation that is recognized on a global scale,” said Nicolai Salcedo, Chief Technology and Data Officer, Walmart Canada. “It’s inspiring to see Walmart recognize the Canadian tech community and invest in further developing local talent with new opportunities that will be brought through this new tech hub.”
Leveraging the vibrant and diverse perspectives of Canadian voices, the hub will tap into Canada’s impressive local tech talent pipeline and reinforce Walmart Global Tech’s longstanding $1.1 billion investment in distribution centers across Canada.
“Walmart’s decision to make Toronto the home of one of its larger tech hubs with hundreds of jobs to come is another vote of confidence in our city’s thriving tech sector,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory.
“As Mayor, I am committed to supporting our technology sector and continuing to encourage companies to locate here and hire here. This is all part of our non-stop effort to ensure that Toronto comes back stronger than ever.”