Community of Thornton Welcomes New WalmartNew Walmart provides 355 new jobs, $16,500 in local grants THORNTON, Colo., July 10, 2010 – A new Walmart opens this month in Thornton, bringing approximately 355 new jobs, savings on a full line of groceries 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 7101 E. 128th St., will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 21. "I want to thank Walmart for their efforts to contribute to our community. In these tough economic times, we appreciate the opening of Walmart, the jobs and the community benefits they provide,” said Erik Hansen, mayor of Thornton. “We look forward to a long relationship with Walmart and expect they will be a partner with our neighborhoods on a continuing basis," he said. Store Designed to Improve Customer ExperienceIn 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 Thornton Walmart. 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 Charlene Atencio. “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. Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly FeaturesThe Thornton Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes 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. Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening GrantsAs part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $16,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. These organizations will each receive grants to support programs that serve the community, including Food Bank of the Rockies, Thorton Police Department, Thorton Fire Department, Westridge Elementary, Prairie View High School, Prairie View Middle School, and the local Boy Scouts. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed $2 billion to U.S. hunger relief efforts through 2015. The Fighting Hunger Together campaign will also engage Walmart customers and associates in the fight against hunger. More information can be found at walmart.com/fightinghunger. Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., July 21Community and business leaders and Walmart Divisional and Regional VIPs will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The community is invited to join store associates as they perform the national anthem and cut the ribbon to the new store. About WalmartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.0 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com. FACT SHEET |
