Transportation and logistics top of mind for Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada has strengthened its behind-the-scenes operations with the purchase of two logistics companies.

The retailer has acquired two privately held Canadian companies – trucking company Translogic Express Dedicated Inc. (TEDI) and distribution centre operator SCM.

Under the terms of the deals, which took effect on July 1, TEDI will continue to do business under its existing name, while SCM will take on a new one. A representative from Walmart Canada noted the new branding for SCM has not yet been finalized.

The companies are well-versed in Walmart’s operations, having worked with the retailer for 20 years. Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs and sustainability for Walmart Canada, said in an article with Canadian Shipper said staff will be unaffected aside from now being Walmart employees.

Walmart Canada has plans to complete 35 Canadian supercentre projects this year. Pelletier noted while the company expands its retail operations, it must also take into account growth in terms of distribution and transportation.

“What it’s really going to allow us to do, by having this in-house as part of Walmart, is to take the best practices these two great companies have already helped us master and shore those with the rest of our international operation and make it easier for us to take best practices from our international operations around the world and bring them to Canada,” Pelletier said to Canadian Shipper. “By bringing them in-house, it just makes this process easier to do.”