The plan includes opening 70 new supermarkets – 70% of which will be outside of Santiago – and creating more than 4,000 direct jobs over the next five years.
Walmart Chile announced today an ambitious investment plan of US$1.3 billion by 2029. It includes opening 70 new supermarkets of its different brands (Lider, Express de Lider, SuperBodega aCuenta and Central Mayorista) – 70% of which will be outside of Santiago – and creating more than 4,000 direct jobs over the next five years.
The launch took place at an event held in Punta Arenas, reaffirming the company’s commitment to the social and economic development of the whole of Chile. A company statement said that the focus on regions throughout the country “promotes decentralization and access to low prices so our customers can save money and live better.”
“By the end of 2029, we will have created 4,000 new job opportunities for people living near our various stores and distribution centers. This translates into a contribution to the economic stability of around 1,000 families, as well as opportunities for professional development for new employees,” stated Cristián Barrientos, CEO of Walmart Chile.
The investment also includes the expansion of the Lo Aguirre Distribution Centers and the construction of a new distribution center in southern Chile. This will increase logistics capacity by 20% in order to improve the coverage and supply of e-commerce, which already reaches 95% of the Chilean population.
Barrientos mentioned that the company’s growth will go hand in hand with sustainability, which will be achieved thanks to the different actions that the company has planned to achieve its global target of being a zero-emissions regenerative company by 2040, through an operation that is cleaner, more efficient and responsible with the planet.
To this end, Walmart Chile has a sustainable distribution strategy with a green hydrogen ecosystem that is growing by leaps and bounds. The company is also incorporating solar panels, a project that aims to ensure that more than 80% of the energy it uses comes from renewable sources, and improving its air conditioning systems in stores, among other initiatives.
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