Community of Tunkhannock Welcomes New Walmart

 Newly relocated Walmart provides 85 new jobs, $6,550 in local grants

TUNKHANNOCK, Pa., Sept. 1, 2011– A new Walmart opens this month in Tunkhannock, bringing approximately 85 planned 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 808 Hunter Highway, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14.

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 Tunkhannock 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 Kim Hensley. “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 85 new jobs were created as a result of the relocation. More than 37 of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years, including 13 associates who have worked at the store since its original opening in 1994.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $6,550 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented to the following organizations during the preview night: Boy Scouts of America, Country Side Conservancy, Eihab Human Services, Junior Achievement of Nepa, Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen, Tunkhannock Area HS Robotics Club, Tunkhannock Area Middle School Band, Tunkhannock Area School District, Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Associate, Triton Hose Co. No. 1 and Tunkhannock Library Associates.

The Tunkhannock 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 and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14 for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Store associates Lynda Swenson and Allen Wehler will perform the national anthem, Pastor Mike Conroy from Grace Fellowship Church will give the invocation, and Dennis Strong with Post 457 American Legion of Tunkannock will present the colors. Representatives from the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon to the new store.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,600 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 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 Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

• Location: 808 Hunter Highway, Tunkhannock, Pa.
• Formerly located at 809 SR 29 S.
• 155,000-square-foot Walmart, gaining 79,833 additional square feet
• Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept.14, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Kim Hensley
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• 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 lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
• Convenience services include a pharmacy, vision center, digital photo processing center and a Walmart Connect Center
• Leased areas and services include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon and a Subway restaurant

$6,550 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations

• Boy Scouts of America
• Country Side Conservancy
• Eihab Human Services
• Junior Achievement of Nepa
• Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen
• Tunkhannock Area HS Robotics Club
• Tunkhannock Area Middle School Band
• Tunkhannock Area School District
• Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Associate
• Triton Hose Co. No. 1
• Tunkhannock Library Associates

• Store plans to employ approximately 270 associates, including 85 positions created by the relocation.
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Pennsylvania is approximately $12.15 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, a Sam’s Club membership for club associates, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive an annual incentive based on the company performance.

* Average wage taken June 2011. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

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