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Food Lion readies store remodels for South Carolina

Upgrades to enhance offerings, customer experience

Russell Redman

March 5, 2019

2 Min Read
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As part of a multiyear store upgrade program, Food Lion aims to remodel 92 supermarkets this year in the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., areas.

Food Lion said that, along with remodels, the $158 million project includes price reductions, expanded product selection at each store and the hiring of almost 2,000 new associates to help improve the customer experience. The first upgraded stores are expected to debut this summer.

Meg_Ham_Food_Lion_headshot2.pngRemodeled stores also will carry a broader variety of products relevant to customers in each store and community, such as more local, natural, organic and gluten-free items, according to Food Lion. The Ahold Delhaize USA chain added that these stores will feature enhanced deli/bakery service and customer service, reflecting new customer-centric training for associates at all stores.

"Food Lion is proud to have been a part of the many towns and cities we serve throughout South Carolina for 43 years, and we are even more excited to bring exciting new offerings, services and a new look to these markets," President Meg Ham (pictured) said in a statement. "We look forward to making significant investments in our stores, our associates and our communities to offer a new grocery shopping experience. Our mission is to ensure our customers can easily find fresh, quality products to nourish their families at affordable prices every day, delivered with caring, friendly service every time they shop. We look forward to reintroducing our renovated stores later this summer."

Related:Food Lion to reopen upgraded stores in Roanoke

Each of the 92 stores will operate normal hours during the remodel process. Food Lion noted that these locations will offer fresh, new experiences that are easier to navigate and shop “so customers can get in, out and on their way quickly.”

For example, six of the South Carlolina stores — in Andrews, Columbia, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown and Ravenel — will house walk-in produce coolers designed to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for a longer period of time. Renovated supermarkets also will feature store-made hand-battered fried chicken in the deli bakery department, as well as more local products like beer and wine plus natural and organic selections.

When the remodel project finishes, 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.

“Across the brands, Food Lion had the strongest growth as we continued to rollout the Easy, Fresh and Affordable program, where we continue to see good results,” Ahold Delhaize Chief Financial Officer Jeff Carr said last week in a conference call on fiscal 2018 results. “We've now remodeled 70% of the Food Lion stores, and we completed Virginia, Norfolk and the greater Roanoke markets in 2018.”

Related:Food Lion buys Bi-Lo stores in South Carolina

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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