Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. : Bridgeton Welcomes New Walmart

Newly relocated Walmart provides 85 new jobs, $7,000 in local grants

BRIDGETON, Mo., July 10, 2012 - A new Walmart opens next week in Bridgeton, bringing 85 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 new Walmart, located at 11900 St. Charles Rock Road, will open Friday, July 13.

"Walmart has always been a great citizen and supporter of the City of Bridgeton and will continue to be," said Bridgeton Mayor Conrad W. Bowers. "This new store is so great for our community."

Economic Impact Includes 85 New Jobs

The relocated Bridgeton Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager Joyce Mobley, including 85 positions created by the relocation. Several associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years and are transferring from nearby stores in Chesterfield and Richmond Heights, among others.

"Walmart provides job opportunities and career choices for everyone from seniors looking for supplemental income to young people wanting to gain work experience," Mobley said. She started her career with Walmart in 1991 as an hourly associate in Washington, Mo. She has been manager of the St. Charles Rock Road Walmart for one and a half years.

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 Bridgeton Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.

The new Walmart features 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 health and beauty making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their everyday needs.

"The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities," said Mobley. "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 and the Site-to-Store pick-up location 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 Features

The Bridgeton 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.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7 a.m., July 13

Bowers, Bridgeton Police Chief Donald Hood and other city leaders will join Mobley and store associates at 7 a.m., Friday, July 13, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3944 will present the colors during the grand-opening ceremony, and the Pattonville High School band will perform the national anthem. Mobley and representatives from the Northwest Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the new store.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants

As part of Walmart's commitment to the communities in which it operates, the store will present $7,000 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to local organizations during the grand-opening celebration, including a $5,000 grant to BackStoppers.

"This is just one example of what Walmart does on a daily basis, helping our community and supporting our city," said Mayor Bowers. "Walmart has been a part of our city and a benefit to the larger metro community for a long time. We look forward to Walmart being a part of our city in a bigger way."

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 10,130 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com, and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

FACT SHEET
Bridgeton Walmart Store facts

• Location: 11900 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Mo.
• 146,000 square-foot Walmart
• Store opens Friday, July 13, following a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Joyce Mobley
• Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week

Store features

• Full line of groceries, including a bakery, a deli with meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and liquor sales
• More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a garden center, fabrics, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
• Convenience services include a pharmacy with two drive-thru lanes, digital photo processing center, a Walmart Connect Center and a Walmart MoneyCenter

Employment

• Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates, including 85 positions created by the relocation.
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Missouri is approximately $12.43 per hour.*
• Walmart's benefit program is available to eligible full- and part-time associates and provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including medical insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise for store associates, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

* Average wage taken April 2012. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

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