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Wal-Mart Names GNB Technologies as Automotive Vendor of the Year

9 April 1999

Wal-Mart Names GNB Technologies as Automotive Vendor of the Year

    ATLANTA, April 8 -- GNB Technologies has been selected by
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as one of its Vendors of the Year for FY99.
Atlanta-based GNB supplies Wal-Mart with a complete line of lead-acid
batteries for a wide variety of applications, including automotive, marine,
heavy duty, garden tractor and motorcycle.  This is the third time GNB has
received the Wal-Mart designation.
    Wal-Mart chose its Vendors of the Year in five different merchandising
categories, lauding the close partnership that provides the best value and
service for consumers.  "Recognizing these companies is a tribute to their
organizations and personnel, and Wal-Mart is proud to be part of the
partnership," said David Glass, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Mr. Glass acknowledged GNB and other suppliers for maintaining high product
quality, outstanding shipping records and continuously challenging industry
standards to accomplish Wal-Mart's goal of satisfying its customers.
    GNB has supplied Wal-Mart since 1983 and has worked closely with the
retailer to develop many innovative programs to smooth delivery systems,
increase inventory turns and keep costs and prices in line.  For example, the
partners designed a highly-efficient, weekly store door delivery system and
developed an award-winning, gravity-feed battery rack for easy restocking and
product rotation.  GNB and Wal-Mart also have a program in which GNB trucks
deliver fresh batteries to Wal-Mart stores and pick up spent batteries and
return them to GNB plants for recycling.  The partners work aggressively to
ensure that all Wal-Mart stores meet the requirements of the lead-acid battery
recycling laws in different states.
    "GNB has a culture of continuous improvement," says GNB CEO Thomas O.
Minner.  "We're honored to have our efforts recognized by a customer like
Wal-Mart, and we feel a responsibility to keep earning our customers'
respect."

    GNB supplies batteries to Wal-Mart under the EverStart(R) brand.

    Editor's note:  GNB Technologies is an integrated provider of power
technology products.  It manufactures and recycles lead-acid batteries for the
automotive, recreational boating, farm, heavy duty truck, electric utility,
electric vehicle, photovoltaic, railroad, telecommunications and
uninterruptible power supply markets in more than 50 countries.  GNB can be
found on the Internet at http://www.gnb.com .
    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) operates more than 2,400 stores and 450 Sam's
Clubs in the United States.  Internationally, the company operates units in
Argentina(13), Brazil(14), Canada(154), Germany(95), Mexico(419), and Puerto
Rico(15), and under joint venture agreements in China(5) and Korea(4).
Wal-Mart employs more than 780,000 associates in the United States and
130,000 internationally.  In 1998, the company raised and donated more than
$127 million for charitable organizations.

    (R)EverStart is a registered trademark of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.