Wal-Mart Opens 25 Percent More Efficient Supercenter in Northern Illinois
State-of-the-art store to lower energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Romeoville, Ill., Jan. 23, 2008 – Continuing its commitment of energy conservation and environmental sustainability, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. today announced the opening of its second generation High-Efficiency prototype (HE.2) store in Romeoville, Ill. Designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use 25 percent less energy than a typical Wal-Mart Supercenter, the Romeoville HE.2 Supercenter is the first of four expected to open this year. The new Supercenter will also bring 400 planned new jobs to the area and $37,000 in grant donations to local organizations when it opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, after a 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony.
Improved Technologies Increase Efficiency
The HE.2 will use many of the energy improvements from the first generation High-Efficiency (HE.1) series as well as introduce new and improved technologies, such as a state-of-the art secondary loop refrigeration system.
“We’ve taken the most efficient prototype in the retail industry and made it even better by incorporating some of the most innovative products in building today,” said Eric Zorn, president, Wal-Mart Realty. “We hope to continue making our stores even more efficient and sharing our learnings with the world, as we work toward a more sustainable future for our company and our customers.”
The 5 percent improvement in energy efficiency over the HE.1 stores comes from a streamlined design of the water-source heating, cooling and refrigeration system, coupled with the new secondary refrigeration loop. This is the first time secondary loop technology has been paired with a water-source system. The store components include:
• 100 percent integrated water-source format heating, cooling and refrigeration system, where water is used to heat and cool the building
• State-of-the-art secondary refrigeration loop that reduces refrigerant by 90 percent
• Motion-activated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in refrigerated and freezer cases, plus additional glass doors on deli and dairy cases
• Optimized pump package that is 50 percent smaller than the HE.1 store and uses even less copper piping
• Industry-leading daylight harvesting technology
• Reflective white membrane roof
• Recycled construction materials such as fly-ash, slag, integrally colored concrete floors, and plastic baseboards and chair rails
• Sensor-activated low-flow bathroom faucets and waterless urinals
New Interior Designs and Layout Offer One-Stop Shopping Conveniences
Located at 420 S. Weber Road, the 203,000-square-foot Romeoville Supercenter is an anchor to the newly developed shopping corridor in Will County just south of Interstate 55 and Airport Road. According to Store Manager Mark Sanders, Wal-Mart took great care to design the brick and limestone façade, complete with art deco iron entrances as well as extensive landscaping throughout the property. Upon entering the Supercenter, shoppers will notice a calming, earth-toned interior color scheme, wide aisles, low shelving and directional signage to help shoppers navigate through the general merchandise departments, including the latest in family apparel, health and beauty aids, shoes, accessories and home furnishings.
The Supercenter features leased areas including a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon and a Dunkin’ Donuts, offering freshly brewed coffee and pastries. Shoppers will find the latest in home entertainment and consumer electronics.
For added convenience, shoppers can also visit the Tire & Lube Express, the vision center, the Wal-Mart Connect Center for cellular phone sales and a branch of Woodforest bank. Customers will also appreciate a two-lane drive-through pharmacy for prescriptions on-the-go. After several months of preparations, Sanders is most excited to bring value and selection close to home, offering his customers an expansive grocery department, complete with a variety of prepared foods.
“We know what our customers want and we are excited to be able to offer everything they need right here, from an array of specialty vegetables for their traditional recipes to fresh bakery items like artisan breads and custom birthday cakes to various side dishes, or find an easy dinner from our freshly prepared meals in the delicatessen,” Sanders said.
The grocery department also has a frozen food section, meat department, seafood, dairy as well as a complete liquor department. Catering to the needs of the community, the store offers Chicagoland and Romeoville favorites including Home Run Inn, Gino’s East Pizza, Connie’s Pizza and S. Rosens Bakery items. The Supercenter also features expanded Hispanic food selections including El Milagro tortillas and chips, Tom Tom Tamales and Goya and La Preferida items. The store will be open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 22 full-service and eight express check-out lanes.
Store Focuses on Community Needs with $37,000 in Donations
As part of the store’s commitment to the community, the Romeoville Wal-Mart Supercenter will announce $37,000 in donations to local charitable and civic organizations through Wal-Mart’s community involvement program. A special $15,000 grant will be given to the Village of Romeoville Parks and Recreation Department that will help fund a special children’s learning center.
“This is the first of many opportunities we have to show that we are committed to being an active and involved community partner,” Sanders said. “We want to continue to positively impact people right here, and these grants will help students and families in our community.”
Like all Wal-Mart stores, the Romeoville store will provide grant dollars throughout the year to help its neighborhood organizations. Area organizations interested in learning more about funding from Wal-Mart or interested in raising money at Wal-Mart stores can contact the store for details, or go to www.walmartfoundation.org.
New Supercenter Brings Opportunity for Career Advancement
“We have hired a great team of nearly 400 associates who are ready to serve our customers,” Sanders said. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Illinois is $11.32 per hour.* Five of the store’s associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years.
Grand Opening Activities
The grand opening festivities will begin at 7:30 a.m. with area dignitaries including Mayor Fred Dewald and members of the Chamber of Commerce as well as local representatives present to share in the community celebration Jan. 23. Other activities planned during the celebration event include numerous product samplings, costume character appearances and giveaways.
About Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
EDITOR’S NOTES
• An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
• Store Manager Mark Sanders can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 815-439-1666.
FACT SHEET
Romeoville Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store Fast Facts
• Location: 420 S. Weber Road, Romeoville, Ill.
• 203,800-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Grand opening ceremony: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.
• Store manager: Mark Sanders
Charitable Giving
$37,000 in charitable contributions to the following area organizations:
• Romeoville High School
• City of Romeoville Parks and Recreation Department
• Lockport Township Fire District
• City of Romeoville Police Department
• Community Service Council of Northern Will County
• Morning Star Ministries
• Tri County Special Recreation Association
Store Features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, complete liquor department, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, health and beauty aids, toys, Tire & Lube Express, a pharmacy with two new drive-through lanes, a one-hour photo lab, a family fun center, a Wal-Mart Connect Center for cellular phone sales. Additional leased space in the store includes a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a branch of Woodforest Bank and Dunkin’ Donuts.
• 22 full-service and eight express check-out lanes
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Employment
• The store plans to employ approximately 400 total associates.
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Illinois is $11.32 per hour.*
• 76 percent of store managers began their Wal-Mart career as an hourly associate.
• Wal-Mart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, business performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken December 2007. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For More Information
• Store manager: Mark Sanders, 815-439-1666.
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
# # #
Click the links below to add this entry to social networking sites.
|
|
|