Walmart Opens Next Generation High Efficiency Store in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 3, 2009 – When the new Walmart store in Sacramento opens to the public on June 17, it will be one of the most energy efficient Walmart stores in the U.S. With the opening of this store, Walmart introduces the HE.6 pilot, the next generation of high-efficiency stores built specifically for the western U.S. climate. The store is located at 6051 Florin Road.

The HE.6 store is designed to be up to 30 percent more energy efficient than the 2005 baseline Walmart store.. This pilot store was developed based on learning from the HE.5 store in Las Vegas, which opened in March 2008. Both the Las Vegas and Sacramento stores are climate-specific, meaning that innovations are based on the unique climate conditions in the area.

“Walmart continues to stay on the leading edge of sustainable building practices,” said James McClendon, director of new format development. “Our ongoing research and our partnerships with other organizations committed to developing clean technologies and reducing energy consumption has resulted in this latest generation of energy efficient stores.”

Technology that was introduced in the HE.5 store in Las Vegas has been brought forward and now the Sacramento store features the next generation of energy efficiencies. The heating, cooling, refrigeration and lighting systems have been refined to conserve energy reduce demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the western climate, the HE.6 store takes the integrated water-source format system that Walmart piloted in its first generation high efficiency stores and adapts it to the unique local climate by adding evaporative cooling and radiant flooring technologies. Water temperature is reduced by pumping it through roof-mounted cooling towers, then running the cold water underneath the retail floor to cool the shopping area. Together, the systems provide a comfortable shopping environment while using less energy.

The new Sacramento HE.6 store is also the first Walmart store in the U.S. to feature a low temperature CO2 secondary loop refrigeration system. The medium temperature refrigeration system also features secondary loop technology. These systems reduce the refrigerant charge in the store by 90%.

In addition to its climate specific technology, the Sacramento Walmart has energy-efficient and environmentally friendly features that are present in all new Walmart stores. These features are designed to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. Skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The cement used in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program.

Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Sacramento Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.

The new Walmart features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Store Manager Jason Craig. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.”

A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. Walmart also combined the customer service desk, site to store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs.

The store plans to employ more than 600 associates at the time of the grand re-opening, including approximately 300 new positions added as a result of the relocation. Eight of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years, and 10 associates have worked at the store since its original opening in 2001.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $14,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will each receive funds to support programs that serve the community: Wood Middle School, West Campus Hiram Johnson High School, Youth Connections Unlimited, James Rutter Middle School Latino American Youth, Sacramento Valley Region Care Coalition, Inc., Florin High School AG Technical Academy, Necessities Bag Sacramento, Sacramento Casa, Crossover Basketball, Community Resource Projects, Camellia Elementary School and St. Johns Shelter for Women and Children.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., June 17
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Two store associates will perform the national anthem, and representatives from the local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars will present the colors. Three children’s dance groups will perform, and representatives from the Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon to the new store.

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 for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
• Store Manager Jason Craig is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 916-422-5439.

FACT SHEET
Sacramento Walmart

Store facts

Location: 6051 Florin Road, Sacramento, Calif.
Formerly located at 4420 Florin Road
195,250-square-foot Walmart, gaining 61,637 additional square feet
Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
Store manager: Jason Craig
Open 6 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week

Store features

Full line of groceries including a bakery, a deli serving fresh food and meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products and fresh produce
More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a drive-through lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
Convenience services include a MoneyCenter, pharmacy, vision center, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
Leased areas include a Blimpie’s restaurant and a branch of Golden One Credit Union

Employment

Store plans to employ over 600 associates, including approximately 300 new positions
The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in California is approximately $11.61 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 February 2009. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

For more information
• Store manager: Jason Craig, 916-422-5401
• Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com

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