public function findAll()
    {

        // initialize the array with the available stores
        $stores = array();

        // execute the prepared statement
        $this->storesStmt->execute();

        // load the available stores
        $availableStores = $this->storesStmt->fetchAll();

        // fetch the stores and assemble them as array with the store code as key
        foreach ($availableStores as $store) {
            $stores[$store[MemberNames::CODE]] = $store;
        }

        // return the array with the stores
        return $stores;
    }