Walmart Brings Savings and Convenience to Metairie

Newly relocated Walmart provides 300 new jobs

METAIRIE, La., June 11, 2009 – A new Walmart opens this month in Metairie, bringing 300 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 8912 Veterans Memorial Blvd., will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 17.

“This new store will have a tremendous impact on Metairie in terms of new jobs and the tax revenue that it brings to our community,” said Glenn Hayes, president and CEO of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. “The store has been a part of our community for 23 years, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them in the years to come.”

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 Metairie 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 Daniel Patterson. “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.

Approximately 300 new positions were created as a result of the relocation. Twenty of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 20 years, including eight associates who have worked at the Metairie Walmart since its original opening in 1986.

Patterson began his Walmart career in 1986 as an hourly associate at a store in Ridgeland, Miss.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $25,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will each receive grants to support programs that serve the community: American Cancer Society, Children’s Hospital, City of Kenner Police Department, City of Metairie Fire Department, Jefferson Parish Police Department, Maggoire Elementary School, Payton’s Play It Forward Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadian and the Young Men’s Christian Association of New Orleans.

Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Metairie Walmart, like all new Walmartludes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s 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 and will promote sustainable product purchases.

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. Store Associate Larenda Garrett will perform the national anthem. Store associates who have worked at the store since its original opening in 1986 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 7 p.m., Monday, June 15. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
Store Manager Daniel Patterson is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 504-465-1227.

FACT SHEET
Metairie Walmart

Store facts

Location: 8812 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, La.
Formerly located at 8912 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
176,264-square-foot Walmart, gaining 62,720 additional square feet
Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
Store manager: Daniel Patterson
Open 6 a.m. to 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, fresh produce and a full liquor department
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 Walmart MoneyCenter, vision center, pharmacy, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center

Charitable giving

$25,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- American Cancer Society
- Children’s Hospital
- City of Kenner Police Department
- City of Metairie Fire Department
- Jefferson Parish Police Department
- Maggoire Elementary School
- Payton’s Play It Forward Foundation
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
- Young Men’s Christian Association of New Orleans

Employment

Store plans to employ approximately 600 associates, including 300 new positions
The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Louisiana is approximately $11 per hour*
Store Manager Daniel Patterson began his Walmart career in 1986 as an hourly associate at a store in Ridgeland, Miss.
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.

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