'I think produce is pretty sexy' (42 Wal-Mart photos)

Frank Gallo is produce manager at the Sault Ste. Marie Wal-Mart Super Centre.

He's really into two things.

Produce.

And customer service.

SooToday.com caught up to Gallo in his home away from home just after his prized produce department opened today.

"We're making it a fun place to shop," he said. "I know not everyone agrees, but I think produce is pretty sexy."

That would include sexy mangoes and avocados from Mexico, berries, organic spring greens and tomatoes from California and, whenever possible, fruits and vegetables from Ontario.

Longtime loyal Wal-Mart shopper Felix Charrette (shown with Gallo) agrees.

He came up and enthusiastically congratulated Gallo on a job well done as we were talking.

Well, as enthusiastically as one can get while trying not to spill one's free coffee.

Charrette wanted to tell Gallo how the bright lights on all that sexy produce made it really easy to see and he really appreciated that.

Gallo told us Super Centre designers put some extra lights on the produce so customers can see how fresh it is.

"Most other stores have it delivered about every three days or so," he said. "We take delivery of fresh produce daily."

Charrette said that was just an added bonus to the real reasons he and his wife will be shopping at the new Wal-Mart super store.

"We shop here anyway so now that they have produce we'll buy it here," he said. "Besides, it's going to be tough to find lower prices anywhere else in town."

Charrette and his wife came prepared with a list of prices on items they regularly bought elsewhere and found that the Wal-Mart prices were somewhat to significantly lower.

Lower prices, customer service and sexy were also the themes over in the brand-new meat and deli department.

Nunzio Scaglione, the new deli/ meat manager, said he's as passionate about Polish, Italian and German sausage as he is about chicken.

The new meat section features sexy steaks, unbelievably low-priced bacon and real Canadian fish.

It also offers prepared-to-order party platters and prepared salads, roasted chicken, chicken wings, chicken nuggets and potatoes done three ways.

All the fresh foods are prepared on site continuously throughout the day.

"We're here to save the people of Sault Ste. Marie money so they can live better," said Store Manager Rob Smokowich during his opening address before the store opened.

"We left a department store yesterday and came in to a grocery store, a Super Centre, this morning," he said. "Now we have one-stop shopping for the people of Sault Ste. Marie."

But it didn't really happen overnight.

"In March I arrived at a store that was ready for a change," said Travis McAdam a Wal-Mart training supervisor from the Oshawa area.

McAdam oversaw the store set-up and congratulated all the staff members for giving their best efforts during the build and transition from a 109,000-square-foot store to a 145,000-square-foot Super Centre with the addition of a full 36,000 square-foot grocery store.

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Up until today, the store put about 5,500 customers through its checkouts daily, said Marc Lacroix, assistant store manager.

Now, it's expected the Sault Super Centre will serve 6,200 to 6,500 customers a day.

One spin off of all that traffic is a massive fundraising opportunity both from associates and customers.

During the Super Centre opening ceremony today, the local fundraising committee donated $7,000 to six charities.

Mr. Bon Soo was his ever-cheerful self as he went up to accept the Mr. Bon Soo-sized cheque for $2,500.

The team of associates on the fundraising committee also had a big cheque of $2,500 for Special Olympics and $500 each for the Group Health Centre's HIV program, Women in Crisis, Algoma Residential Community Hospice and Super Store 3155's adopted school, Queen Elizabeth Public School.

Wal-Mart District 12 Regional Manager David Gaudreau said this is the 76th Super Centre Wal-Mart has opened and all the associates should be very proud of themselves for all they've done to make it happen.

"Never has your commitment been more important," Gaudreau said.

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

New Wal-Mart grocery store officially opens next week Sault Wal-Mart rumours are full of bologna Attention Wal-Mart shoppers - Colin has hot buns 'I think produce is pretty sexy'

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