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Food Lion plans more store upgrades in Virginia

Nearly two dozen locations slated for remodels

Russell Redman

April 9, 2019

2 Min Read
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Food Lion’s multiyear store remodel program is now headed to the Charlottesville-Harrisonburg, Va., market.

The Ahold Delhaize USA supermarket chain said Tuesday it plans to invest $40 million to upgrade 23 stores in 14 towns and cities throughout the area, which straddles Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

Remodeled stores will carry a wider variety of products relevant to customers in each location and the community, such as more local, natural, organic and gluten-free items, according to Food Lion. These stores also will have an easier-to-navigate layout and feature enhanced deli/bakery departments, price reductions and expanded product assortments. About 400 new store associates will be hired to help improve customer service and the shopping experience, the retailer said.

Each of the 23 stores will remain in operation during the remodels, which are expected to be completed by late summer, Food Lion said.

"Food Lion is proud to have been a part of the many towns and cities we serve throughout the Charlottesville/Harrisonburg market for 37 years, and we are even more excited to bring new offerings, services and a new look to these markets," President Meg Ham said in a statement. "We look forward to making significant investments in our stores, our associates and our communities to offer an enhanced shopping experience.”

Related:Food Lion readies store remodels for South Carolina

All remodeled stores will offer an expanded variety of beef, pork and poultry under Ahold Delhaize USA’s Nature’s Promise organic/natural brand, which is free of artificial additives, preservatives and colors. The updated locations also will feature hand-battered fried chicken made in-store; more local products like craft beer and wine, plus additional natural and organic varieties; and expanded offerings of international specialty products, grab-and-go snacks, and premium and ready-to-drink coffee.

Select stores also will offer fruit cut in store as well as a bigger seafood selection, Food Lion said. In addition, two stores — in Ruckersville and Charlottesville — will house walk-in produce coolers designed to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer time periods.

Besides Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Ruckersville, Virginia stores being remodeled under Food Lion’s “Easy, Fresh and Affordable” strategy are located in Verona, Stuarts Draft, Staunton, Elkton, Waynesboro, Palmyra, Timberville, Grottoes, Madison, Fisherville and Scottsville.

When the store renovations are finished, Food Lion will have upgraded 80% of its approximately 1,030 stores across its 10-state operating area in the Southeast over the past four years.

In early March, Food Lion unveiled a $158 million project to remodel 92 supermarkets in the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., areas. The upgraded stores also are slated to debut this summer.

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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