Loblaw plans 80 new stores in 2025Loblaw plans 80 new stores in 2025

Loblaw Cos. said on Wednesday that it plans to invest about $1.54 billion ($2.2 billion Canadian) this year to build 80 new stores, open a new distribution center, and remodel more than 300 grocery and drugstore locations. The investments are part of a plan by the company to invest more than $7 billion ($10 billion Canadian) by 2030, the company said.

Loblaw’s announcement follows Walmart Canada’s recent pledge to open “dozens of new stores” in the next five years, including two new Supercentres in Ontario this year and three in Alberta by 2027.

Accordingly, Loblaw cited a focus on its price-focused grocery banners in its expansion plans. Its new stores planned for this year include 50 new hard-discount grocery stores, which it operates under the No Frills, Maxi, and No Name banners. The 80 stores planned for 2025 will include locations of its No Frills, Maxi, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, and T&T Supermarket banners, the company said. Loblaw opened its first T&T Supermarket in the U.S. late last year in Bellevue, Wash., and the Asian-foods retailer reportedly has more on the way in Washington and California.

100 more drugstore clinics for Shoppers Drug Mart

Loblaw’s planned investments for 2025 also include more than 300 grocery and pharmacy store remodels, including the addition of about 100 new Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy care clinics.

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In a recent post on LinkedIn, Stewart Samuel, director of Retail Futures at consulting firm IGD, singled out Loblaw as an exemplary model of IGD’s “Store of the Future 2030” framework, citing its small, urban-focused No Frills stores; its No Name low-price pilots; its nonfoods tests at its Real Canadian Superstores, and its pharmacy-led clinics at Shoppers Drug Mart.

In addition to the store investments, Loblaw said it would invest in the continued development of its modernized supply chain, including the opening this year of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility in East Gwillimbury, Ontario.

The company said its expansion plans would create 8,000 jobs this year. The planned investments follow the investment of about $6.2 billion ($8 billion Canadian) since 2020.

In prepared remarks, Per Bank, president and CEO, Loblaw, also played to the surge Canadian nationalism that has reportedly arisen amid threats of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. He said the Canadian retailer would “work to showcase Canadian-made value and quality,” whether through increasing orders for products made in Canada or broadening its Small Supplier program.

A spokesperson for Loblaw could not be reached for further comment.

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Loblaw is scheduled to report results for the fourth quarter and full year on Thursday.

In their own words: “Delivering value to our customers”

“At a time when Canadians need value the most, we’re continuing to invest meaningfully in the Canadian economy and in delivering value to our customers.” —Per Bank, president and CEO, Loblaw.