Retail company’s new stores and renovations of existing locations to create retail and construction roles
Loblaw Companies is planning to invest $2.4 billion in its Canadian operations in 2026, adding about 9,700 jobs across the country, the company has announced.
The retailer says the capital program will fund 70 new stores across the country, upgrades at 191 existing locations, and continued construction of a roughly 1.2‑million‑square‑foot automated distribution centre in Caledon, Ont., as part of a five‑year commitment to invest $10 billion in Canadian communities by 2030. The initiative is expected to create thousands of retail and construction roles from coast to coast, Loblaw said in a news release issued Feb. 23.
The expansion will see 34 new Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix pharmacies and care clinics, along with 31 new No Frills and Maxi discount grocery outlets, open over the year, industry publication Grocery Business reported. The investment also includes enhancements to Loblaw’s supply chain capabilities alongside the new builds and renovations.
Widespread hiring, shift toward automation
According to the release, Loblaw is Canada’s largest private‑sector employer, with more than 220,000 workers and a network of about 2,500 food and pharmacy stores, and every region in Canada will see hiring tied to the 2026 program. The company expects more than 600 jobs in Eastern Canada, close to 2,000 in Quebec, roughly 3,775 in Ontario — including roles linked to two automated distribution centres in southern Ontario — and more than 3,400 positions in Western Canada.
Beyond store‑level hiring, Loblaw’s plan underscores the continued shift toward automation in retail distribution. The company says the 2026 spending will support ongoing work on its automated facility in Caledon as part of its broader effort to enhance supply chain capabilities.
Employer brand, affordability and health‑care access
Loblaw positioned the announcement as a response to affordability and access to health services, saying the investment will bring additional discount grocery options and pharmacy care clinics to communities at a time when Canadians are under pressure.
“Our success depends heavily on the strength of the communities we serve,” said Per Bank, president and CEO of Loblaw Companies Ltd., in the release. “We see this as a significant investment in our network and capabilities as one of Canada’s largest retailers, but it is also an investment in the people we serve and their ability to access great value and quality healthcare. By helping Canadians live life well, our business gets stronger too.”
Loblaw’s latest commitment follows a 2025 plan to spend $2.2 billion and open 80 stores as part of the same five‑year, $10‑billion framework, reported the Canadian Press.
