Sponsored By

Food Lion to unveil upgraded South Carolina stores

Grocery chain’s $158 million investment includes 92 remodels

Russell Redman

July 15, 2019

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

This week, Food Lion is set to hold grand reopenings of 92 upgraded stores in the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., areas.

The Ahold Delhaize USA grocery chain said each store, also including renovated locations in Lumberton, N.C., will open to the public at 8 a.m. on Wednesday after ribbon-cutting ceremonies. As part of the events, the first 100 customers in line will get a Food Lion reusable grocery bag, a Food Lion branded apron and a $10 gift card, and one shopper will get a $250 card. Later in the day, Food Lion will give out another round of $10 gift cards to 100 customers at all of the stores.

Besides the remodels, Food Lion’s $158 million capital investment for the 92 stores includes the hiring of 2,000 more associates and community contributions, including the donation of two mobile trucks to area food banks.

With the project’s completion, Food Lion has upgraded 80% of its approximately 1,030 stores across its 10-state operating area in the Southeast over the past four years.

“We're excited to bring these improvements to our 92 local stores," Food Lion President Meg Ham said in a statement on the latest round of store remodels. "We've created a new grocery shopping experience through the significant investments in our stores, associates and communities.”

Related:Food Lion adds grocery pickup at more than 100 stores

Food Lion noted that the upgraded stores are easier to navigate and shop so customers can “get in, out and on your way quickly.” For example, customers will find a more efficient checkout process and as well as enhanced signage and groupings of like products, enabling them to locate items faster.

The remodeled stores also carry a wider variety of products relevant to customers in the surrounding communities, such as more local, natural, organic and gluten-free items, according to Food Lion. That includes more local produce in a new “Local Goodness” section plus an expanded variety of craft beer and limited reserve wines.

Other improvements include store-made fried chicken and a broader assortment of meals, grab-and-go items and presliced deli meat and cheese in the deli department; a bigger selection of fresh produce and meat; and a larger offering of beef, pork, poultry, milk, eggs, bottled water, cereal, coffee and other items under the Nature’s Promise natural/organic store brand.

In addition, six of the South Carolina 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.

Related:Food Lion plans more store upgrades in Virginia

“From our expanded variety and product assortment, newly reorganized stores, to a more efficient checkout experience, every change we’ve made will make it easier for our customers to find the quality products they have come to expect from Food Lion,” Ham added. “When coupled with our weekly sales and promotions, customers will see that we have made it easier for them to nourish their families with healthy foods on a budget.”

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

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like