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Walmart launches 'refresh' of produce department

Enhancements include an open-market feel and dedicated organic shop

Russell Redman

November 20, 2019

3 Min Read
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Walmart plans to update the produce sections in most of its U.S. stores by summer 2020.Walmart

Walmart has begun rolling out a redesign of its produce department that the retail giant says provides a “refreshed” shopping experience.

Charles Redfield, executive vice president of Walmart U.S. Food, said in a blog post Wednesday that it plans to update most of its U.S. stores by next summer. Many other locations will see the produce area renovated as part of remodels, he added. Overall, the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer operates 4,759 Walmart stores in the United States.

“The changes we’re making to our produce department will be great for our customers and associates, and we’re excited to bring them to stores all around the country,” Redfield said in the post.

Among the key changes are a more “open market feel” and more shopping space. That includes the addition of low-profile displays and wider aisles.

“These new bins allow customers to see everything available in the department right when they walk into the store. We’re using colorful, abundantly filled displays to highlight freshness and the quality of our items — for example, large bins of ripe red tomatoes and sizable displays of seasonal items like squash and pumpkins,” Redfield explained.

“Our new low-profile bins will enable customers to shop from multiple sides, making it faster and easier for customers to shop the department,” he added.

Related:Siri comes to Walmart for online grocery

While Walmart has added more organic fruit and vegetables in recent years, the retailer is now creating an “organic shop” by grouping these items in a single location inside the store.

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“We’re moving all organic items into one area of the department, so customers who want organic items can enjoy one-stop shopping,” Redfield said.

In addition, new signage is designed to highlight Walmart’s low pricing in produce.

“We’re proud of our prices, and we want our customers to know they’re getting a great value at our stores,” he said. “So we’re adding more signs that are large and bright, so the low prices really stand out.”

Walmart actually had started making improvements to its produce offering — including quality, assortment and the shopping experience — a few years ago, according to Redfield. Efforts included more organic and locally grown items; stronger relationships with farmers to shorten the supply chain to provide fresher, longer-lasting produce; redesigned departments with more light, better signage and specially angled fixtures for easier shopping; and an expanded Fresh Guarantee. Fresh department managers’ responsibilities also were expanded include all of service deli, bakery, meat and produce.

Related:E-commerce energizes Walmart in third quarter

“We’ve been focused on getting it right, and our customers are noticing. But with all the work we’ve done to increase quality in our produce department, we saw an opportunity to change up our in-store look and feel to even further emphasize the quality of the food we sell,” Redfield said of the new changes.

Besides an enhanced shopping experience for customers, the latest changes bring an improved work environment for associates in the produce department, he added.

“Our new format simplifies workloads, making it easier for our associates to stock produce. This way, they can refocus their time on serving customers.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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