Supercenter Celebrates Cobb County with $18,000 in Grants
Expanded Walmart brings fresh savings to Marietta MARIETTA, Ga., Nov. 10, 2008 – Marietta residents can now add groceries and fresh produce to the list of items to save money on at the Cobb Parkway Walmart. By expanding the store at 1785 Cobb Parkway S. into a Supercenter, the local Walmart now offers a grocery department, complete with a bakery, deli, meats, and frozen and dry foods. The Supercenter opens Wednesday following an 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. As part of the grand-opening celebration, associates will give $18,000 in grants to local schools and non-profit organizations. “In today's economy, our customers are looking to us to be an advocate and find solutions that save them money on their groceries and other products that their families need,” said Store Manager Sean Spratt. “We can now offer our customers savings on everyday staples such as milk, eggs, and fresh fruits and vegetables. At Walmart, we're committed to saving people money so they can live better.” The expanded Supercenter is demonstrating its support of the community by giving $15,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to local organizations, including a $5,000 grant to Atlanta Community Food Bank. Other recipients are the Marietta Police and Fire departments, H.E.R.O. for Children, Campbell High School and Belmont Hills Elementary School. “Walmart has always been a wonderful corporate partner,” said Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway. “Walmart’s involvement in the Marietta community is especially prevalent in our schools. They’ve cooperated with the schools to provide fundraising support, discounts to PTA members and other contributions to the school district over the years. We’re grateful for their continued support.” Supercenter to Make Holiday Shopping a Breeze
The expanded Supercenter will help customers get a jump on their holiday shopping while saving money. The store will feature a Christmas Shop where customers can meet all their holiday needs at affordable prices. Budget-conscious shoppers can find Christmas trees, ornaments, wrapping paper, lights and outside decor. “We believe our customers will be looking to stretch their dollars more than ever this holiday season,” said Spratt. “Our store will provide affordable and convenient solutions to help customers meet their Christmas shopping needs. We look forward to offering unbeatable prices throughout the Christmas shopping season.” One-stop Shop Convenience
The retailer has spent the past 18 months tailoring the store to the needs of the surrounding residential community. Located within walking distance of nearby neighborhoods and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, the Supercenter offers smaller-sized packages to help lighten the loads of those walking home from the store, Spratt said. Updates to the store include the addition of a complete grocery and fresh produce department-- stocked with essentials for everyday meals, game-day celebrations and holiday parties. A Hispanic foods section has been added to serve the numerous Latino shoppers, and a bakery and deli offer freshly prepared hot and cold foods, pastries and custom cakes. Wider aisles, easy-to-read signs and the reorganized departments all help customers easily navigate the store. The remodeled pharmacy houses a larger seating area for customers. And a new Walmart Money Center provides customers with access to low-cost money services, including check cashing, money orders, bill payment and money transfers. With Walmart’s unbeatable prices, customers can save 25 to 50 percent or more over other leading money service providers. Customers can also get a Walmart Money Card, which is a prepaid re-loadable Visa card that provides many of the features and conveniences of a checking account and credit card without a credit check or the need for a bank account. The store also has expanded home entertainment and electronics departments that showcase well-known consumer electronics such as the latest MP3 players, DVDs and a full display of high-definition and plasma televisions. Supercenter Brings Jobs, Opportunity
The store expansion resulted in approximately 140 new jobs, for a total of 330 associates at the store. More than 30 associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. “It makes me proud to work for this company where there are unlimited opportunities,” Spratt said. “Many associates joined because they know they have the opportunity for a long-lasting career at Walmart.” Like most Walmart store managers, Spratt started his career with the retailer as an hourly associate. He joined the company in 1998 as a cart pusher at a store in Cartersville, Ga. Expansion Includes Environmentally-friendly Features
The Marietta Supercenter was designed to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. 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. Like most Walmart stores, waste heat from the refrigeration system is used to heat hot water for restrooms and kitchen areas. The store recycles everything from motor oil to waste cooking oil. The recycling program features a sandwich bale process that takes all loose plastic, hangers, aluminum cans and office paper and sandwiches them between cardboard, bundles them into bales and sends them to recycling centers. The photo department also uses green technology, operating completely without liquid chemicals for photo processing. Ribbon-cutting Celebration 8 a.m., Nov. 12
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 8 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Felicia Wells and Myrtice Knuckles, two associates who have been with the original Marietta Walmart since 1988, will cut the ribbon. The Marietta Police Department will present the colors, and the Campbell High School band will play the national anthem while students from Belmont Hills Elementary lead the song. Doors to the store will open at shortly after the celebration. About Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart 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. Walmart proudly supports the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods and last year gave more than $296 million to communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com or www.walmartfoundation.org. EDITOR’S NOTES - Store Manager Sean Spratt is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 770-955-0626.
- The terms “Walmart” and “Walmart Stores” refer to the corporate entity. “Walmart,” expressed as one word and without hyphenation, refers to the brand name of the company’s U.S. operations. This distinction came in June after the company announced the introduction of a new logo for its U.S. store operations.
FACT SHEET
Marietta Walmart Supercenter Store facts - Location: 1785 Cobb Parkway S., Marietta, Ga.
- 176,000 square-foot Walmart Supercenter; 24,000 square feet added by the expansion
- Store opens at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, after an 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Sean Spratt
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, Hispanic foods, beer and wine
- Merchandise departments include apparel and accessories, sporting goods, fine jewelry, lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids and a full line of electronics.
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, Vision Center, Money Center, Walmart Connect Center and digital photo processing center.
- Leased areas and services include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon and a McDonald’s restaurant.
- Open 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week
Charitable giving
$15,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to six area organizations: - Atlanta Community Food Bank
- Marietta Police Department
- Marietta Fire Department
- H.E.R.O. for Children
- Campbell High School
- Belmont Hills Elementary School
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 330 associates
- Thirty-three of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years
- Store Manager Sean Spratt started his Walmart career in 1998 as a cart pusher at a store in Cartersville, Ga.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Georgia is $11.14 per hour*
- Walmart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include health insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart 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 September 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information # # #
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