Bolstering its Midwestern market presence, Meijer today opened five supercenters in four states.
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer said Thursday that 159,000-square-foot stores opened their doors in Manitowoc, Wis.; Sycamore, Ill.; Bad Axe, Mich.; and Brimfield and Lorain, Ohio.
Grocery offerings at the new supercenters include more than 600 varieties of farm-fresh produce, 150 USD-certified organic items and a full-service meat department, according to Meijer. The company said the locations also house a pharmacy and carry general merchandise items typically found in specialty stores, ranging from on-trend women’s apparel and beauty care to expansive baby and pet departments, with the latter offering 200 pet toys, 500 varieties of dog and cat treats, and premium pet foods.
Other store services include digital shopping options, such as Shop & Scan, which enables shoppers to scan barcodes via a mobile app and bag their items as they shop, as well as Meijer Home Delivery and Pickup for online grocery and other orders.
“These new stores reinforce our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of communities at a time when everyone is looking for a one-stop shopping experience,” Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes said in a statement. “We look forward to providing our customers with fresh options and innovative ways to shop so they can get the items they need while keeping their families safe.”
In line with coronavirus pandemic safety measures in other Meijer locations, the new supercenters are operating under adjusted hours. Inside the stores, floor decals have been deployed where customers typically gather to promote physical distancing, and plexiglass shields provide extra protection to cashiers and shoppers at all checkout lanes, the company said.
Along with opening at 6 a.m. and closing at midnight, the stores also reserve hours for seniors, customers with chronic health conditions, essential service workers and associates to shop for food and other essential items, Meijer said. The retailer noted that its delivery and pickup services also have aided social distancing in communities across the Midwest.
Meijer store employees, too, receive daily health screenings and temperature checks and are recommended to wear masks. The company said customers are requested to wear face coverings according to state and/or local guidelines.
“Throughout the past few months, our Meijer team members have worked diligently to prepare these new stores amid unprecedented challenges, and for that we are all proud and inspired,” Keyes added. “Our store teams are ready to keep our stores stocked and provide the cleanest shopping environment possible as we work together in the new communities that have welcomed us.”
In late January, Meijer opened its second small-format store, dubbed Woodward Corner Market, in Royal Oak, Mich. The 41,000-square-foot store serves up a mix of fresh, convenient food and everyday low pricing to customers in the region. Meijer said Woodward Corner Market marks its first small store concept in metropolitan Detroit. The retailer opened Bridge Street Market, a 37,000-square-foot neighborhood grocery store on the west side of Grand Rapids, in August 2018.
Last year, in mid-May, Meijer opened three new supercenters in suburban Cleveland, expanding the retailer’s reach into northeastern Ohio. The 155,000-square-foot stores were opened in Avon, Mentor and Stow, Ohio.
Overall, Meijer operates 253 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
