Martinez Supercenter to Help Customers Save Time and Money
Expanded store brings groceries, new services and additional jobs to area residents MARTINEZ, Ga., June 20, 2008 – The Martinez Wal-Mart will take on a fresh new look as it opens to shoppers Wednesday as a new Supercenter. Located at 260 Bobby Jones Expressway, the expanded facility offers customers a one-stop shopping experience complete with a full line of fresh groceries, new services and a wider selection of merchandise. The store has been serving the Martinez community for 20 years. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. In addition, $18,000 in donations will be given to local organizations in honor of the grand opening. “We’re excited to bring the many benefits of a Supercenter to our customers in this region,” said Store Manager Jason DiLorenzo. “Today families are looking for value without having to drive long distances and by offering everything they need in one location we can help them save both time and money.” The new store has increased by 78,000 square feet to accommodate expanded merchandise and services. 200 New Jobs Planned
According to DiLorenzo, the store’s expansion provides an additional 200 planned new jobs, bringing the store’s total employment to approximately 550. “It’s great to be able to have a positive impact on the community by providing 200 new jobs,” said DiLorenzo. “We are excited to offer our new associates a chance to build careers.” More than 65 associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years, and nine associates have been with the store since its original opening in 1988. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Georgia is $11.06 per hour, * and the majority of Wal-Mart store management began their Wal-Mart careers as hourly associates. Store Features Groceries, MoneyCenter and New Canopy™ Line
Just in time for summer cook-outs, the expanded 217,000-square-foot store now offers shoppers a chance to save on fresh produce, frozen foods, meat and dairy products. The store also has a full deli with a wide variety of freshly prepared foods including rotisserie chicken, sandwiches and salads. Customers can pick up decorated cakes and freshly made pastries and breads in the bakery. The bakery can also personalize cakes for any occasion. The store also features a Wal-Mart MoneyCenter to assist customers who are outside of mainstream banking with convenient access to low-cost money services, including check cashing, money orders, bill payment and money transfers. With Wal-Mart’s every day low pricing, customers can save 25 to 50 percent or more over other leading money service providers. The new store will feature products from Wal-Mart’s new Canopy™ brand, a line of durable, affordable furniture and home accessories. The line carries furniture for every room in the home or home office as well as table and bath linens, tableware, lamps and rugs. Wood pieces are designed with active families in mind and feature a mar-resistant Hard Coat finish. Spills are easily cleaned on the upholstered pieces, which are covered in stain-resistant chenille. Area Community Groups Share $18,000 in Grand Opening Grants
Spanning the line between Columbia and Richmond counties, the store will have a positive impact on the community by giving $18,000 in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation to local groups in celebration of the grand opening. “Because our store is located in two counties, we have elected to give grants to groups from Martinez county and the city of Augusta,” said DiLorenzo. Groups interested in learning more about funding from the Wal-Mart Foundation or interested in raising money at Wal-Mart stores can contact the store for details, or go to www.walmartfoundation.org. Environmentally Friendly Features Promote Sustainability
Like new Wal-Mart stores everywhere, the Martinez store was designed with features that conserve energy and reduce the store’s environmental impact. The freezer cases and non-sales areas of the store have LED lights and sensors that automatically shut off the lights when those areas are unoccupied or customers are not present. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Water flow is regulated in the store’s bathrooms through the use of sensor-activated faucets in the sinks and high-efficiency toilets and urinals that regulate water flow and reduce consumption. Turbines in the faucets actually generate the electricity that powers those sensors. The new store is also committed to offering products that are affordable and sustainable. Grand Opening Celebration
The store invites the community to attend its celebration at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25. Activities will include a ribbon cutting and the presentation of colors by the local National Guard. Activities planned throughout the day include product samples, 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 $296 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org. EDITOR’S NOTES
• Jason DiLorenzo, store manager, can provide details about the store expansion, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 706-860-0170.
• Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
• Average wage taken June 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for more details FACT SHEET
Martinez Wal-Mart Supercenter Expansion Store fast facts - Location: 260 Bobby Jones Expressway, Martinez, Ga.
- 217,000 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Grand opening celebration: 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 25
- Store manager: Jason DiLorenzo
Charitable giving
$18,000 in charitable contributions will be provided to area organizations including: - Boys and Girls Club of Agusta
- Martinez Volunteer Fire Department
- Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy
- Augusta Technical College Foundation
- Richmond County Sherriff’s Office
- Augusta Public Library
- Junior Achievement of Georgia
- Columbia County Sherriff’s Office
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, beer and wine sales, pharmacy, MoneyCenter, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, portrait studio, one-hour photo, family fun center, Wal-Mart Connect Center and garden center.
- Leased areas in the store include Regal Nails, SmartStyle Family Hair Salon and McDonald’s restaurant.
- Skylights, LED lighting in freezer cases and non-sales areas, low-flow toilets and faucets in the bathrooms, concrete flooring made with recycled materials, and a refrigeration system used to heat water.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Employment - The store will employ approximately 550 associates including 200 new associates.
- The statewide average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $11.06 per hour.*
- Store Manager Jason DiLorenzo began his Wal-Mart career in 1996 as an assistant manager for produce at a store in Augusta.
- 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, company performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken June 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information
• Store manager: Jason DiLorenzo, 706-860-0170
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com # # #
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