Giant retailer says survey shows support for Supercenter

Associated Press

Wal-Mart is using a new survey to bolster its case for turning its store on Kauai into the states's first Wal-Mart Supercenter, which would offer supermarket groceries.
The SMS Research poll paid for by the world's largest retailer found 41 percent of those survey said they were “strongly” in favor of a Supercenter and an additional 15 percent said they were “somewhat” in favor, for a total of 56 percent.
Advertisement Twenty-eight percent said they were “strongly” opposed to a Supercenter, 11 percent said they were “somewhat” opposed, for a total of 39 percent, and 6 percent were undecided.
“The survey results are very gratifying,” said Kevin McCall, Wal-Mart's Hawaii spokesman.
“The poll confirms our belief that in the 11 years since Wal-Mart opened its Lihue store, we have become an important part of the Garden Island community,” he said. “Kauai's people strongly support our efforts to serve them even better by expanding our store into a Supercenter with a full supermarket.”
The United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 480 said last year that it feared Wal-Mart's entry into Hawaii's grocery market will force conventional supermarkets to reduce wages to compete with the massive retailer and its low prices.
Wal-Mart would need county approval to proceed with its plans.
There are eight Wal-Mart stores and two Sam's Club stores in Hawaii.
Plans to erect another regluar Wal-Mart store at a busy intersection in Kapolei have brought some objections from local residents.
Those polled were asked: “There have been discussions about building a Wal-Mart Supercenter on your island. Overall, do you favor or oppose a Wal-Mart Supercenter on this island?”
Honolulu-based SMS conducted the telephone survey of 385 registered Kauai voters in March. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.