First Maumelle Wal-Mart Brings A Fresh Way to Save

Neighborhood Market offers new shopping option, 80 planned jobs

MAUMELLE, Ark., June 2008 – Just in time for Independence Day and summer cook-outs, Maumelle shoppers will get their own Wal-Mart store when the new Neighborhood Market opens at 117 Audubon Drive. In addition to great values, the new store also provides Maumelle an economic boost with more than 80 planned new jobs. As part of the grand opening ceremony, $18,000 will be donated to local charitable organizations at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25.

“Today, our customers are looking for ways to save on gas and now Maumelle residents will have access to Wal-Mart’s fresh groceries right in their own neighborhood,” said Store Manager Bill Watkins. “We’re a convenient place to pick up everything from a pastry on your way to work or stock up on supplies for a summer cook-out.”

Neighborhood Convenience
Designed as a convenient and easy store format, the Neighborhood Market will provide local shoppers an opportunity to save money on their grocery needs. The store features a full line of groceries including bakery goods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and a variety prepared foods including sandwiches, salads and desserts

“Our store is going to carry the products that Maumelle customers are looking for,” Watkins said. Shoppers will find many local favorites including Arkansas-grown watermelon and asparagus, Post Family Wines, Wiederkehr Wines, Corky’s BBQ and Petit Jean meats. The store will also feature a pizza machine, a tortilla maker and beer and wine sales.

The savings for shoppers go beyond groceries. Customers at the Maumelle Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market can drop off film at the half-hour photo processing lab while they shop. The store also features a pharmacy with a drive through, health and beauty aids and seasonal items such as greeting cards and gift wrap. The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Store Opening Creates 80 Planned New Jobs
According to Watkins, the new store plans to employ a total of 80 associates, and the majority of those jobs are full-time positions. The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.83 per hour.* Watkins began his Wal-Mart career as an hourly associate in the grocery department 12 years ago at a store in Zachary, La. The majority of all Wal-Mart store management began their Wal-Mart careers as hourly associates.

“We are excited about the opening of the new Neighborhood Market because it gives Maumelle citizens another choice with regards to grocery shopping,” said Maumelle Mayor Michael Watson. “This store will have a positive economic impact on the City of Maumelle and will be a great community business partner.”

Focus on Community Needs
In celebration of the store’s opening, the Wal-Mart Foundation is donating $18,000 to local organizations that benefit the community. Grant support will directly affect children in the Maumelle area; $5,000 will be given to Pine Forest Elementary School to help fund an after school literacy program, and $2,500 will be given to Pulaski Charter School for an after school program as well.

Other groups receiving support are the Relay For Life, the Maumelle Arts Council and the Parks and Recreation Department. Camp Sunshine, a camp operated by the Maumelle Fire Department for children who are burn victims, will receive a grant to provide scholarships for some of the campers.

“We see being a strong community partner as a priority for our store,” said Watkins. “We look forward to welcoming our customers and to giving back to the Maumelle community.”

Environmentally Friendly Features Promote Sustainability
Like all new Wal-Mart stores, the Maumelle store was designed with features that reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. The freezer cases and non-sales areas of the store have LED lights and sensors that automatically shut off the lights when those areas are unoccupied or customers are not present. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The concrete flooring is made of recycled materials and do not require harsh chemicals to clean. Water flow in the store’s bathrooms is regulated through the use of sensor-activated faucets in the sinks and high-efficiency toilets and urinals that regulate water flow and reduce consumption, and turbines in the faucets actually generate the electricity that powers those sensors. The new store is also committed to offering products that are affordable and sustainable.