Wal-Mart Will Take Inglewood Grocery Restriction to the Ballot; Signature Gathering Underway.

Business Editors

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002

Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) today announced its intention to go forward with a referendum petition in Inglewood. The referendum is in response to a recently adopted ordinance by the Inglewood City Council that prohibits

"While we have no immediate plans to sell groceries in our proposed Inglewood store, Wal-Mart staunchly opposes any attempt by local government to restrict the amount of grocery items large retail stores may carry," said Robert S. McAdam, Wal-Mart's vice president for state and local government affairs. "To limit what a retailer may carry is to limit consumer choice."

A public opinion survey recently conducted in Inglewood by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates on behalf The Homestretch at Hollywood Park -- a proposed retail development at 90th Street and Prairie Avenue in Inglewood -- revealed that 77 percent of those surveyed supported the sale of groceries at Wal-Mart. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed said they would support repealing the City's recently adopted grocery restriction.

"In every jurisdiction where Wal-Mart has challenged grocery restriction ordinances, we have prevailed," said McAdam. "In addition to pursing the ballot referendum, we are currently exploring legal remedies and may also seek relief in court."

In April, Wal-Mart announced plans to build 40 Supercenters in California -- stores that combine full grocery lines and general merchandise under one roof at Wal-Mart's signature Every Day Low Prices. "In other areas of the country where Wal-Mart has opened Supercenters, grocery prices drop 20-40 percent," said McAdam. "Wal-Mart is committed to lowering the price of groceries for California consumers, just as we have for consumers around the country."

About Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,780 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 510 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. Internationally, the company operates about 1,200 units. Wal-Mart employs 1.3 million associates worldwide. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. Last year Wal-Mart associates raised and contributed $196 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. Americans named Wal-Mart the company they think of first in supporting local causes and issues, according to Cone, Inc. More information about Wal-Mart can be located on-line at www.walmartstores.com and www.walmart.com. The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at www.samsclub.com. And more information about Wal-Mart's Good Works community involvement is available online at www.walmartfoundation.org.

Note to Editors: Survey available upon request.