Meijer Opens 2 More Wisconsin Stores in Wauwatosa and Oak Creek

PRESS RELEASE

MILWAUKEE — Continuing an estimated $750 million investment in Wisconsin, Meijer opens two more stores in Wauwatosa and Oak Creek today. The new supercenters create nearly 600 jobs and provide fresh produce delivered daily, affordable, high-quality merchandise and a full-service pharmacy that makes family health care a priority.

“Since opening our first two stores in the state six weeks ago, local residents and new customers have welcomed us with open arms and responded positively to the new shopping option we offer in Wisconsin,” Co-Chairman Hank Meijer said. “We are thrilled to be opening our Wauwatosa and Oak Creek supercenters, giving us the opportunity to provide a quality one-stop shopping experience to more communities around Milwaukee.”

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company now operates 222 stores in six states and plans to open two to three new Wisconsin supercenters per year through 2019. The retailer also partners with local farmers and businesses, when available, to provide locally-grown produce and other grocery products. For example, Meijer partners with five local produce growers in Wisconsin, including Alsum Farms of Friesland, Wis.

Opening celebrations began with a ribbon-cutting event at each store, followed by remarks from Meijer leadership and local officials. The stores demonstrated their commitment to each community by making $25,000 donations to the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation and the Oak Creek Public Library to fund an internet café at each location. The donations will allow the public libraries to purchase technology and necessary furnishings for the creation of a young adult space equipped with preloaded fun, interactive and educational iPad activities and more for teenagers.

As part of its ongoing community support, Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations annually, and each of its stores works with local food pantries and banks to help fight hunger at the local level.

Since 2008, the retailer’s Simply Give program has generated more than $16 million for its food pantry partners throughout the Midwest. The fall Simply Give campaign will kick off in Wauwatosa and Oak Creek upon the stores’ opening and will run through Sept. 12. To celebrate National Hunger Action Day, Meijer will double match customers’ donations from Sept. 3-5. The Oak Creek Meijer will partner with Family Life Food Pantry; the Wauwatosa Meijer will partner with Tosa Family Food Pantry.

In addition to the retailer’s traditional grocery and merchandise offerings, the new pharmacies feature drive-thru pick up and will offer the company’s free prescription program, as well as clinical services and immunizations. The program includes leading oral generic antibiotics with a special focus on prescriptions most often filled for children, prenatal vitamins and medications for those with diabetes and high cholesterol. Since its inception in 2006, more than 27 million free prescriptions have been filled, saving Meijer customers more than $390 million.

“Our teams have worked very hard to prepare and we’re excited to bring our stores to Wauwatosa and Oak Creek,” Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said. “We do our best to find locations that will best serve communities and are looking forward to building on the excitement of our first four stores in Wisconsin in the years to come.”