Walmart Chicago » Top Story

Walmart Rockets from 15th to Third in EPA Green Power Rankings

Crossborders — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:23:54 +0000

Walmart has shot to third place on the EPA’s rankings of the country’s top green power purchasers, from 15th place just last quarter. The Green Power Partnership ranking, for the retailer’s Texas and California facilities alone, pushes Whole Foods down to fourth place. According to the EPA’s data, Walmart’s facilities in the two states use 872,382,088 kWh of green power a year, or 28 percent of their total electricity use. These Walmart facilities also rank second among retailers, second among on-site green power generators and third among Fortune 500 companies on the EPA’s lists.

Walmart Expanding in Chicago

Crossborders — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:34:52 +0000

After an eight-year battle Alderman Howard Brookins, Jr. is finally able to celebrate his efforts to bring a Super Walmart store to his South Side ward. And the retailer took a monumental step in announcing it changed its employment policies and will hire ex-felons. Officials said this move gives everyone an opportunity to apply to work there. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer opened its first super store on the South Side Wednesday in the West Chatham community. “I cannot tell you how good it feels to finally see this store open and filled with customers,” said Brookins, whose 21st ward includes the store’s location at 8301 S. Holland Road. “And I want to thank the black press for sticking with this story for eight years. This is a story worth telling and a battle I would do all over again.”

Walmart DC Business of the Year

Crossborders — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:34:16 +0000

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce looked back at its 100-year history and celebrated the good works of many Thursday at its annual awards and dinner banquet. Chamber Executive Director Kim Ewoldsen presented its Business of the Year award to the Walmart Distribution Center for its work to alleviate area hunger. The DC has participated in the Let’s Feed Our Children free summer lunch program and the YMCA’s breakfast program for children, as well as provided food for cookouts at area senior centers. Its workers have volunteered more than 3,200 hours with local nonprofits, and teamed with Frary Lumber to build a ramp for two elderly women who didn’t have the means to build it themselves, Ewoldsen said.

Chicago’s newest Walmart Supercenter opens; Look at those Veggies

Crossborders — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:13:31 +0000

Chicago’s second Wal-Mart supercenter — and its fifth Wal-Mart of any size — opened this morning in the South Side’s Chatham neighborhood.

The 157,000-square-foot store — the newest addition to the Chatham Market retail development on a former steel mill site near the Dan Ryan Expressway — represents a major victory for the world’s largest retailer and its eight-year battle to expand in Chicago.

Wal-Mart Opening Chatham Supercenter

Crossborders — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:55:47 +0000

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is opening its long-anticipated supercenter in Chatham today, the culmination of a seven-year battle to establish a store on the former steel site. The 157,000-square foot store is the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount chain’s second supercenter in the city. A supercenter is a large format store that combines general merchandise with a grocer.

Wal-Mart Opening Chatham Supercenter Today

Crossborders — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:41:44 +0000

Wal-Mart Supercenter Opens In West Chatham

Crossborders — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:38:59 +0000

Walmart Holds ‘Idol’ Style Contest for Small Businesses

Crossborders — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:28:15 +0000

Zombie repellant might not be something you expect to find on the shelf at Walmart. Or, for that matter, puppy shoes. But a public relations-savvy contest that the nation’s largest retailer announced last week could result in one of these off-beat products landing on Walmart shelves before year’s end. For Walmart, it’s all about garnering publicity and social-media hits. But for the winner of the contest, it’s a chance to go from a virtual unknown to a distinguished product sold with roughly 150,000 others at more than 3,800 Walmart stores nationally. Walmart dubbed its contest the “Get on the Shelf” program — an American Idol-style competition for small businesses. Two rounds of online voting will determine three winners, all of which will be sold online, with the grand prize winner gaining a spot in select stores. Giving shoppers a say in the company’s offerings is crucial to connecting with them, says Chris Bolte, vice president of @WalmartLabs — the social-media and e-commerce team that created the contest. “You always want to stay closely tuned to what your customers are looking for,” Bolte says. “It’s really about getting products on the shelves that we haven’t seen.”

Chatham Walmart Opening

Crossborders — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:26:37 +0000

Walmart will open its second Chicago supercenter Wednesday — bringing fresh fruits and vegetables and jobs to the South Side’s Chatham neighborhood — eight years after an infamous City Council battle. The long-awaited Walmart will have 157,000 square feet of space, including a “full grocery and a full offering of general merchandise,” according to company spokesman Steven Restivo. Roughly 75 percent of the 350 jobs, most of them full-time, will be filled by South Side residents. Asked whether the eight-year political battle was worth the wait, Restivo said, “The time and energy spent opening the store was well worth it because more residents in the city will have access to jobs and fresh, affordable food in an area of the city where residents need more affordable options for fresh, healthy food.” Later this year, Walmart plans to open: the Pullman supercenter; Neighborhood Markets in Lake View and Auburn-Gresham and Walmart Express stores in West Englewood and River North.

Wal-Mart, Kroger, Supervalu Win Diversity Honors

Crossborders — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:49:28 +0000

Wal-Mart Stores, Kroger and Supervalu were each named to a list of top 50 businesses for multicultural business opportunities by Diversity Business here. The “Div50” list recognizes top 50 corporate and organizational buyers of diversity products and services throughout the U.S. and is based on responses to questions sent to 1.2 million woman- and minority-owned U.S. businesses. In the list published Sunday, Wal-Mart ranked second overall behind AT&T, Kroger ranked 15th and Supervalu 23rd.