Expanding your footprint across a state is no small feat—but six?! That is one monumental effort. Ahold Delhaize is venturing to do just this, investing $127 million to expand its banner Food Lion’s footprint. The company will be remodeling 87 locations across Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, offering shoppers an expanded variety of new products and services.
“We’re excited to welcome our neighbors in these towns and cities into their fresh, new Food Lion,” said Food Lion President Meg Ham. “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.”
Some of the exciting aspects of the remodel will include:
By the end of this year, 23 of these remodeled stores will also offer the retailer’s grocery pickup service, Food Lion To Go, a press release mentioned. Shoppers can order their groceries for pickup or for home delivery in select areas where it is available.
To celebrate the rollout of this innovative strategy, each store will offer random giveaways throughout the next week, ranging from reusable shopping bags to gift cards.
Each of the 87 remodeled stores now recycle organic waste products and have received new recycling containers. Food Lion associates also received additional training on sustainability efforts, which will ultimately lead to reduced waste for the company as a whole. Through the use of energy-efficient equipment, technology, and procedures, 73 of the newly revamped stores have received the ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.
The company has also demonstrated its social responsibility with critical investments in its communities, as the retailer donated $145,000 to local Feeding America® member food bank partners through its hunger-relief initiative, Food Lion Feeds. The food bank partners who received donations include:
Each of the newly remodeled Food Lion stores will be making a one-time donation of $500 to a nearby feeding agency. The retailer will also collect regular food donations through Food Lion’s food rescue program, in which every Food Lion store donates food safe for human consumption to a local feeding agency before the food spoils. A full list of the organizations receiving monetary and food donations from Food Lion can be found here.
“Our associates care deeply about nourishing their neighbors, and far too many of our neighbors are forced to make difficult choices between things like gas and groceries or dinner and rent,” Ham added. “Through Food Lion Feeds, we’re committed to eliminating those difficult choices many in our communities face. We’re proud to work with dedicated community partners every day that share our commitment to support our food-insecure neighbors in the towns and cities we serve.”
If you’re looking to find out more about this ambitious multi-state strategy, a list of the 87 remodeled stores can be found online.
That is a ton of exciting announcements packed into one six-state expansion! As we continue following the progress of these retailers, keep clicking back to DMN.
