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Food Lion to debut store remodels in Norfolk

Reopenings set for 105 locations following capital investment plan

Russell Redman

August 28, 2018

3 Min Read
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This week, Food Lion will take the wraps off remodels at 105 stores in the greater Norfolk, Va., area.

The Ahold Delhaize USA supermarket chain said it plans to hold grand reopening events at all of the stores on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Each location is scheduled to open to the public at 8 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the first 100 customers in line will get a free tote bag plus a “mystery” gift card valued at $10 to $200.

In early May, Food Lion announced a $168 million capital investment plan to upgrade the shopping experience at the Norfolk-area stores. Besides the remodels, the program entailed the hiring of 4,000 additional staff and community outreach, which included a nearly $200,000 donation to local food banks for the purchase of two mobile food pantry trucks.

“Food Lion has nourished the greater Norfolk community for nearly 40 years, and we're excited to bring these improvements to our 105 local stores," Food Lion President Meg Ham said in a statement. "We've created a new grocery shopping experience through the significant investments in our stores, customers, associates and communities.”

On the convenience side, changes include new signage and groupings of like products, which Food Lion said will enable customers to find items faster. A more efficient checkout process also is designed to make it easier for shoppers to get in and out of the store.

Related:Food Lion hatches store remodel program in Virginia

The stores also will feature expanded variety and assortment across all departments, such as more local produce in the “Local Goodness” section; an expanded variety of craft beer; limited-reserve wines; and more natural, organic and gluten-free items. The larger perishables offering includes a wider selection of Nature's Place beef, salads, fruit and other items.

For families, the remodeled stores will serve up a broader array of easy and affordable meals, such as hand-battered chicken, along with a greater variety of grab-and-go items and presliced deli meats and cheeses, which are sliced fresh daily and available for customers to pick up without waiting in line, Food Lion said.

Twelve of the stores will house walk-in garden coolers for keeping produce fresher longer, and six stores have expanded deli departments, which offer such items as handmade artisan pizza and premium coffee.

More than 40 of the Norfolk-area stores also contain a wing bar assortment for customers seeking hot, quick meal solutions, Food Lion added.

“From our expanded variety and product assortment, newly reorganized stores and new signage to a more efficient checkout experience, every change we’ve made will make it easier for our customers to find fresh, quality products at affordable prices every day,” according to Ham. “And true to our heritage, we always offer everyday low prices along with weekly sales and promotions.”

Food Lion said that with the completion of the Norfolk market upgrades, 649 of its 1,030 stores have been remodeled over the last four years. The Salisbury, N.C.-based chain, whose stores are in 10 Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states, added that it plans to remodel additional stores in other markets going forward.

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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