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Food Lion wraps up $127 million store remodel project

Upgrades to 87 supermarkets focus on expanded assortments

Russell Redman

November 3, 2021

2 Min Read
Food Lion-remodeled store-Nov2021.JPG
Food Lion's remodels included stores in Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.Food Lion

Food Lion has completed a store remodeling initiative spanning 87 stores in six Southern states, for a total investment of $127 million.

Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, said Wednesday that the upgrades included 27 stores in Tennessee, 23 in Georgia, 20 in South Carolina, 11 in North Carolina, and three apiece in Kentucky and Virginia.

Headlining the store remodels were expanded variety and assortment across all departments, tailored to the customer base in each community, according to Food Lion. That includes more locally sourced products as well as additional natural, gluten-free and organic items, led by an augmented own-brand selection of Nature’s Promise beef, pork, poultry, dairy, breakfast and children’s foods, among other items.

Food Lion said the enhanced stores also now serve up more local craft beers and limited reserve wines; a bigger selection of family meals and grab-and-go items; more pre-sliced deli meats and cheeses, available for pickup without having to wait in line; and an expansive assortment of fresh produce and meat, backed by a double-your-money-back guarantee.

“We’re excited to welcome our neighbors in these towns and cities into their fresh, new Food Lion,” President Meg Ham said in a statement. “Our associates can’t wait to show customers their newly remodeled store and have them experience the expanded variety and assortment of new products and services. All these changes were made with our neighbors in mind so they can nourish their families affordably and make life a little easier.”

Related:Food Lion expands presence in Virginia

Customers, too, will find updated signage and groupings of like products, making it easier to navigate the aisles and locate items faster, along with a more efficient checkout process, Food Lion said. And by the year’s end, 23 of the remodeled stores will offer the Food Lion To Go online grocery pickup service. Home delivery is available in selected areas as well. Pickup and delivery orders are placed at shop.foodlion.com, powered by Instacart.

Food Lion added that all of the 87 upgraded stores now recycle organic waste products and have deployed new recycling containers, with associates receiving extra training on sustainability to help reduce waste being sent to area landfills. And by using energy-efficient equipment, technologies and procedures, 73 of the stores have received the Energy Star certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The designations recognize a commitment to boosting energy efficiency and cutting down greenhouse gas emissions.

Related:Food Lion rolls out curbside pickup to more stores

In reporting fiscal 2021 second-quarter results, Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller noted Food Lion’s strong performance.

“From a brand perspective, I’d like to call out Food Lion, which achieved its 35th consecutive quarter of positive comparable-sales growth,” Muller told analysts in an Aug. 11 conference call. “In addition, the 71 [acquired] stores that have been integrated year-to-date are exceeding sales expectations.”

Overall, Food Lion operates more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, including Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

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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