New Year Brings Jobs, Opportunity to Greenacres
Walmart opens Neighborhood Market in renovated plaza with 108 associates GREENACRES, Fla., Jan. 2, 2009 – More than 100 local residents are beginning 2009 with new jobs, thanks to a Walmart Neighborhood Market opening Jan. 7 in Greenacres. The store will offer nearby residents quick, convenient access to fresh produce, familiar brands and everyday favorites. Doors to the new store will open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, following a 7:30 a.m. ceremony. The store is conveniently located at 3911 Jog Rd., at the intersection with Lake Worth Road. It is part of the newly renovated Greenacres Plaza, where it serves as one of the shopping center’s anchor businesses. Walmart completely remodeled the space, upgrading the exterior and renovating the interior. The retailer also added environmentally friendly fixtures to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. “We’re excited to be part of the transformation of this shopping center, providing jobs to more than 100 local residents and helping our customers stretch their shopping dollars,” said Store Manager Tim Parker. “Our store will provide affordable and convenient solutions to help customers meet their everyday shopping needs.” Store Provides 108 Hometown Jobs
The Neighborhood Market plans to employ approximately 108 associates. Ten associates have worked for the company for more than 10 years. The average wage for full-time hourly Walmart associates in Florida is $11.30 per hour.* “We are proud that our Walmart is creating a positive impact on the local economy, and we have hired a great group of associates who are ready to serve their customers and community,” added Parker. Like most Walmart managers, he started his career with Walmart as an hourly associate in 1996, working in the garden center at a store in Cascade, Mich. Selection Reflects Community Preferences
Designed as a neighborhood grocery store, the 45,600-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market will provide the local community another destination for groceries and everyday essentials. The store features a complete line of groceries including fresh produce, frozen foods, meat and dairy products and a variety of organic offerings. It also has a full deli offering rotisserie chicken and a wide variety of fresh prepared foods including sandwiches, salads, desserts, bottled drinks, milk, juices, waters and energy drinks. Customers can pick up decorated cakes, freshly made pastries and breads in the bakery. In an effort to reflect the preferences of the diverse local community, the store will offer an expanded selection of items for Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, as well as kosher items. Shoppers will appreciate the store’s full-service pharmacy, along with a wide selection of health-related products. They will also benefit from Walmart’s popular $4 Prescription Program, which now includes more than 350 generic prescriptions and more than 1,000 over-the-counter medications. “Our customers who live here only part of the year can easily transfer prescriptions to our store from another Walmart store and then back again to the store in their hometown,” Parker said. “I think they’ll enjoy shopping here, with our low-profile fixtures and wide aisles, and I know our associates will enjoy serving them.” The store’s health and beauty area features special lighting and concave fixtures not normally seen in a grocery or small retail format store. Additional areas include stationery, paper goods, pet products and hardware items. Customers can also print their own digital photos at the store. The store will be open 24 hours day, seven days a week. A Focus on Community Needs
Walmart stores nationwide traditionally award grants from the Walmart Foundation at their grand-opening ceremonies to help community groups and charitable organizations. The grants underscore Walmart’s philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. Associates of the new Greenacres store selected 12 organizations to receive grants totaling $24,500. Recipients include schools, public safety agencies, and community agencies that serve those in need, such as Hearts & Hope of West Palm Beach, Outreach for the Blind and Oasis Compassion Agency. “Walmart’s generosity comes at a time when we are seeing shrinking resources and rising need. Funding is the lifeblood of what we do, especially since our services are offered free to our clients,” said Sharon Gill, CEO of the Oasis Compassion Agency. The agency serves approximately 750 families each year through a six-month holistic program that includes access to a food pantry, thrift store, job training and life skills courses. “We know that financial support to our local organizations makes a real difference, and we will play a role in continuing Walmart’s commitment to Greenacres and other parts of Palm Beach County,” Parker said. “Like all Walmart stores, our store will work with neighborhood organizations to provide support and community grants throughout the year.” 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. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (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. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com. EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, will include tours of the store. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Tim Parker is available for interviews about the grand opening. He can be reached at 561- 964-6337.
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
- 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 after the Company announced the introduction of a new logo for its U.S. store operations in June.
*Average wage taken December 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for more details. FACT SHEET
Greenacres Walmart Neighborhood Market Store fast facts - Location: 3911 Jog Rd., Greenacres, Fla.
- Grand-opening ceremony: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7; doors to open at 8 a.m.
- Store Manager: Tim Parker
Store features - Store size is 45,600 square feet
- Wide variety of products, including fresh produce, fresh meat and dairy items, health and beauty aids, pharmacy, stationery and paper goods, pet supplies and household cleaning supplies
- The store will offer an expanded selection of Latin American and Caribbean food items, as well as kosher items.
- Delicatessen features a wide range of fresh prepared foods, including rotisserie chicken, pizza, sandwiches, salads, desserts and beverages.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Charitable giving
$24,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following community organizations: - City of Greenacres Police Department
- City of Greenacres Fire Department
- Compass
- Dorcas
- Greenacres Elementary School
- Hearts & Hope of West Palm Beach
- John Leonard High School
- L.C. Swain Middle School
- Locks of Love
- Oasis Compassion Agency
- Outreach for the Blind
- Veterans
Employment - Approximately 108 positions planned.
- Ten associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Florida is $11.30 per hour*
- Store Manager Tim Parker began his career with Walmart in 1996 as an hourly associate in the garden center at a store in Cascade, Mich.
- 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, business performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance
* Average wage taken December 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information - Store manager: Tim Parker, 561-964-6337
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
# # #
Click the links below to add this entry to social networking sites.
|
|
|