Walmart

When an 180,000-sq.-ft. Walmart Supercenter opens at Hunter Crossroads this fall, it will mark the first major retail opening in the shopping center, which is part of a larger 160-acre planned mixed-use project.

Developed by Hunter Crossroads LP, the center is being leased by Transwestern, based in Dallas.

Construction on the new Walmart is more than halfway completed; expected opening date is September 2013 and the store will feature Walmart’s smaller, more efficient prototype in lieu of its more traditional 220,000-sq.-ft. layout.

New York -- Walmart will open as many as 115 small-format stores this year, according to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.  

Simon discussed the chain’s store portfolio during a presentation at Raymond James Institutional Investors conference. He noted that Walmart’s smaller-format stores (below 60,000 sq. ft.) are making inroads against dollar stores, supermarkets and drug stores and will play a key role in the company's future.  

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. announced Monday that it is redeveloping its Park 66 shopping center, located in St. Petersburg, Fla., and owned by the company since 1970.

A Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is being added to the property as part of the redevelopment – slated to open fall 2013 – and other tenants are being relocated.
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Walmart announced that it has worked with SolarCity to install solar panels on 12 Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs throughout Ohio. The solar panel installations will add approximately 6,000,000 kWh of generation production – enough energy to power more than 820 homes – and are expected to supply approximately 5-20 percent of each store's overall electricity use.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Walmart Foundation is celebrating National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week by giving $6.7 million in grants to five national nonprofit organizations that are providing children with school breakfast and helping families develop better eating habits. The grants are part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation's $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America and Walmart's 2011 initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices.

Columbus, Ohio -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it has worked with SolarCity to install solar panels on 12 Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs throughout Ohio.

The solar panel installations will add approximately 6,000,000 kWh of generation production – enough energy to power more than 820 homes – and are expected to supply approximately 5%-20% of each store's overall electricity use.

Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell will be named director of President Barack Obama’s Office of Management and Budget during a ceremony at the White House scheduled for Monday morning.

Obama announced his intent to appointment Burwell several months ago, but the nomination on Monday makes it official and paves the way for Senate confirmation hearings to begin.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke said Burwell would do a tremendous job serving the county if she is confirmed by the Senate.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon should have plenty to say when he addresses investors March 5 at the 34th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference.

^{Simon’s comments precede the Raymond James conference but come roughly two weeks after Walmart reported disappointing top line growth at its U.S. stores by posting 1% comp increase that was at the low end of a forecast range calling for a gain of 1% to 3%. The company also issued a tepid outlook for first quarter growth with comps expected to be flat to up 2%.}