Walmart Biggest Donor To Alcohol Campaign

According to documents filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, Walmart of Bentonville has donated $50,500 to Growth for Farmington to help with the group’s efforts to place an alcohol question on the November ballot.

Kum & Go also contributed to the local option committee.

The committee has turned in monthly financial reports to the Ethics Commission and these show Walmart has made five separate donations since February. Walmart gave two donations of $10,000, a $12,000 donation, a $16,500 donation and $2,000. Kum & Go donated $7,500.

From February- June, Growth for Farmington received a total of $58,160 in contributions and spent $52,377. The July report will be due Aug. 15.

Anne Hatfield, Walmart spokeswoman, issued the following statement about Walmart’s contributions:

“Our customers are telling us they want added convenience and choice when shopping for adult beverages. We can offer our customers an assortment of beer and wine as part of a convenient and comfortable one-stop shopping experience. More importantly, we can provide those products in a responsible manner. Walmart believes the law in Farmington needs to be modernized to provide our customers a full assortment of adult beverages as part of a convenient and comfortable shopping experience.”