Walmart Takes Angry Birds Space to New Heights with the First Retail and Gaming Integration

the Angry Birds are in their final descent to your local Walmart! Angry Birds Space, the newest version of the world’s most-downloaded mobile game from Rovio Entertainment, will touch down in app stores tomorrow, March 22, and only Walmart customers will be able to access “Golden Eggsteroid” clues that unlock four bonus levels in the game. For the first time, Walmart has joined forces with a leader in mobile entertainment to provide its customers with an integrated online and in-store gaming experience.

The remaining clues will be embedded in select limited-edition Angry Birds merchandise available in Walmart stores, including apparel, plush toys, mobile phones, snacks and more. This first-of-its-kind retail gaming experience launches on Facebook today and catapults into more than 3,000 Walmart U.S. stores on March 25.
“Walmart is bringing fun back to the shopping experience, with interactive merchandise that brings the best of digital gaming together with in-store retail,” said Seong Ohm, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for entertainment, Walmart U.S. “By partnering with Rovio, we’re able to give millions of avid bird slingers bonus content by coming into our stores and shopping our broad assortment of Angry Birds Space merchandise. This is just one of many exciting partnerships Walmart is forging to give our customers access to exclusive content.”
Customers can search through Angry Birds Space-themed items – including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks and more – for hidden game clues that unlock four “golden eggsteroid” bonus levels. The golden eggsteroids may be hidden on pricetags, snack boxes and even on an actual t-shirt design. Examples include:

• Angry Birds™ Space Fruit Snacks - $2.18
• Angry Birds™ Space Limited Edition Space Tee - $6.97
• Angry Birds™ Space 8” Plush Birds - $14.97

“We wanted to give our fans a unique retail extension to Angry Birds Space that rewards them for their eagle eyes,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and Mighty Eagle of Rovio Entertainment. “Only Walmart can deliver the reach across America for this type of program and we wish our fans luck as they seek out our hidden clues.”
Additionally, T-Mobile is offering a special Angry Birds promotion in Walmart stores. With the purchase of any T-Mobile Android smartphone, such as the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, paired with a great value plan, such as the T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 Unlimited Web & Text plan, Walmart customers will gain access to an Angry Birds Space portal in the T-Mobile Mall where they can download the new game and find a hint to unlock a hidden golden eggsteroid level. Customers will also be given access to extras like downloadable Angry Birds wallpaper and Angry Birds animated shorts.

Walmart Takes Angry Birds Space to New Heights with the First Retail and Gaming Integration

March 21, 2012 – America, the Angry Birds are in their final descent to your local Walmart! Angry Birds Space, the newest version of the world’s most-downloaded mobile game from Rovio Entertainment, will touch down in app stores tomorrow, March 22, and only Walmart customers will be able to access “Golden Eggsteroid” clues that unlock four bonus levels in the game. For the first time, Walmart has joined forces with a leader in mobile entertainment to provide its customers with an integrated online and in-store gaming experience.
The remaining clues will be embedded in select limited-edition Angry Birds merchandise available in Walmart stores, including apparel, plush toys, mobile phones, snacks and more. This first-of-its-kind retail gaming experience launches on Facebook today and catapults into more than 3,000 Walmart U.S. stores on March 25.
“Walmart is bringing fun back to the shopping experience, with interactive merchandise that brings the best of digital gaming together with in-store retail,” said Seong Ohm, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for entertainment, Walmart U.S. “By partnering with Rovio, we’re able to give millions of avid bird slingers bonus content by coming into our stores and shopping our broad assortment of Angry Birds Space merchandise. This is just one of many exciting partnerships Walmart is forging to give our customers access to exclusive content.”
Customers can search through Angry Birds Space-themed items – including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks and more – for hidden game clues that unlock four “golden eggsteroid” bonus levels. The golden eggsteroids may be hidden on pricetags, snack boxes and even on an actual t-shirt design. Examples include:

• Angry Birds™ Space Fruit Snacks - $2.18
• Angry Birds™ Space Limited Edition Space Tee - $6.97
• Angry Birds™ Space 8” Plush Birds - $14.97

“We wanted to give our fans a unique retail extension to Angry Birds Space that rewards them for their eagle eyes,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and Mighty Eagle of Rovio Entertainment. “Only Walmart can deliver the reach across America for this type of program and we wish our fans luck as they seek out our hidden clues.”
Additionally, T-Mobile is offering a special Angry Birds promotion in Walmart stores. With the purchase of any T-Mobile Android smartphone, such as the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, paired with a great value plan, such as the T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 Unlimited Web & Text plan, Walmart customers will gain access to an Angry Birds Space portal in the T-Mobile Mall where they can download the new game and find a hint to unlock a hidden golden eggsteroid level. Customers will also be given access to extras like downloadable Angry Birds wallpaper and Angry Birds animated shorts.

Riverview Welcomes New Walmart Neighborhood Market

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market will open in Riverview on March 28, with a 57,756-square-foot store designed to offer quick access to low-cost groceries, prescriptions and household products. The new store, located at 10863 Bloomingdale Ave., will open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Fresh Foods and Familiar Brands

Designed as a convenient family shopping center, the Walmart Neighborhood Market will provide the local community another destination for groceries at the Walmart value price. The store will carry a full line of groceries, including fresh produce, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, and organic items. For those on the go, the deli offers hot rotisserie chicken, and a wide variety of meats, cheeses and freshly prepared foods. Customers can pick up cakes and freshly-made bread in the bakery.
“With our smaller format, our store is perfect for those on the go. Whether they’re stocking up or need to pick up just a few items, our customers will be able to find what they need quickly and easily,” said store manager Ronald Freitas. “Our customers will be able to find familiar brands and local products at great values, right in their own neighborhood.”
Shoppers will also appreciate the convenience of the store's pharmacy with a full selection of health-related products and a health and beauty area. Additional areas include electronics, stationery, paper goods, housewares and domestics, pet products and hardware items. Customers can also print their own digital photos at the store. The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Store Provides 90 Local Jobs

The Walmart Neighborhood Market plans to employ approximately 90 associates. Approximately 20 associates have transferred to the new store from existing Walmart locations, about half of whom have worked for the company for more than 10 years.
“Walmart provides job opportunities and career choices for everyone from seniors looking for supplemental income to young people wanting to gain work experience,” Freitas said. He joined the company in 1998 as an assistant manager at a store in Sarasota.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates $8,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented throughout the year.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., March 28

Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Riverview High School Choir will perform the national anthem and the Riverview High School ROTC will be presenting the colors. Freitas and store associates will cut the ribbon to the new store.

Walmart Brings Affordability, Accessibility to Pee Dee NASCAR Fans

DARLINGTON, S.C., March 15, 2012 – NASCAR fans in the Pee Dee can save on tickets to the upcoming Southern 500 on May 12 with the Walmart Family Track Pack. The $99 package gives families four race tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and one program – a total savings of more than $100.

“We are making races affordable and accessible for fans,” said Rand Waddoups, Senior Director, Entertainment Properties and Brands, Walmart. “The Walmart Family Track Pack is a great value that gives local fans a way to take their whole family to the track together.”

“An independent study shows the direct economic impact from race weekend exceeds $70 million,” said Holly Beaumier, director of the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Race fans fill Darlington and Florence stores, restaurants and hotels each year on Mother’s Day weekend, thrilled to experience the Southern 500 at the ‘Track Too Tough to Tame.’”

In addition to the race ticket package, Walmart’s Race Time 2012 program gives fans authentic NASCAR merchandise and unique fan events at stores.

Beginning May 9, select Walmart stores in the Pee Dee will host NASCAR fan events featuring real stock racing car displays and racing simulator machines – perfect to safely get behind the wheel and feel the power of NASCAR.

It’s time to unlock your DVDs America!

LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2012 – It’s time to unlock your DVDs America! The freedom to watch your movies any time, any place is here! Walmart is giving physical DVD/Blu-ray collections across the country a second life by turning them into digital movies. The nation’s largest home entertainment retailer is the first to announce an exclusive in-store disc-to-digital service which gives movie lovers the freedom to watch their DVD/Blu-ray collections from Internet-connected devices, including televisions, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles and more. The service is powered by VUDU, the industry-leading video streaming service.

Walmart, in partnership with the major Hollywood studios: Paramount Home Media Distribution, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, is increasing the value of movie ownership for its customers. Starting April 16th, 2012 in more than 3,500 stores, Walmart customers will be able to bring their DVD and Blu-ray collections to Walmart and receive digital access to their favorite titles from the partnering studios. An equal conversion for standard DVDs and Blu-ray discs will be $2. Standard DVDs can be upgraded to High-Def (HD) for $5.

The appetite for enjoying movies is strong and growing. Walmart wants to help movie lovers download or stream their movies when they want and where they want. Walmart asked thousands of customers their thoughts regarding movie ownership. Customers want to own physical Blu-rays and DVDs and customers also want to have digital access to those same movies for convenience. Customers also cited accessibility, security, affordability, and simplicity as key decision factors for wanting a digital solution. Walmart listened and is delivering America’s first disc-to-digital service.

“Walmart is helping America get access to their DVD library,” said John Aden, executive vice president for general merchandising, Walmart U.S. “Walmart Entertainment’s new disc-to-digital service will allow our customers to reconnect with the movies they already own on a variety of new devices, while preserving the investments they’ve made in disc purchases over the years. We believe this revolutionary in-store service will unlock new value for already-owned DVDs, and will encourage consumers to continue building physical and digital movie libraries in the future.”

Walmart adds 60 new jobs, plus more convenience for local shoppers

The wait is over for residents in Willows eager to see their Walmart bring savings on a full line of groceries and a wide assortment of new products and services. The Walmart is designed to make shopping easy for customers. The store will bring 60 new jobs to the community. The store will be unveiled to customers at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 14, after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We have a loyal customer base and some have been shopping here since our original opening,” said store manager Gabrielle Long. “We think they’ll love the new, easy-to-shop layout of the store and appreciate the savings we offer on the products they need.”

New Layout Improves Customer Experience

The Willows Walmart also features a new layout and updated design. In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandise and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores with faster service, a friendlier shopping experience and cleaner stores.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save customers time as they shop for everyday necessities at our unbeatable prices,” said Long. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase we are making one-stop shopping even easier.”

The new layout creates an open shopping environment with wider aisles. Lower shelving throughout the store creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly.

Walmart Store Adds 60 New Jobs

The store plans to employ approximately 230 associates, including approximately 60 new positions. “Joining Walmart was a great career decision for me, as it has been for so many of my fellow associates,” Long said. “I am proud to work for this company where there are unlimited opportunities and to bring those opportunities to our community and neighbors.”

Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features

The Willows store, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 8:30 a.m., March 14

Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 14 for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Store associate Rebecca Maness will perform the national anthem, and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1770 along with Willows Cub Scout Pack #68 will present the colors. Long and other associates will cut the ribbon to the new store.

Walmart Increases Annual Dividend

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 1, 2012-- The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an annual dividend of $1.59 per share, approximately a 9 percent increase from the $1.46 per share paid during fiscal year 2012. For the current fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2013, the annual dividend of $1.59 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.3975 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:

Record Date							Payable Date
March 12, 2012							April 4, 2012
May 11, 2012							June 4, 2012
Aug. 10, 2012							Sept. 4, 2012
Dec. 7, 2012							Jan. 2, 2013

Walmart executives to present at Bank of America, Raymond James conferences

Wal-Mart Stores, executives will participate in two key retailing conferences on Wed., March 7. Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley will provide an update on the company’s financial priorities as the keynote speaker at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference in New York at approximately 8 a.m. EST. Senior Vice President and Treasurer Jeff Davis and Walmart International Chief Financial Officer Cathy Smith will take the stage at the Raymond James 33^rd Annual Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Fla., at approximately 11:35 a.m. EST to discuss the company’s international growth strategy.