Customer-focused stores that offer fresh options

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Meijer has opened three new 155,000-square-foot supercenters, Meijer president and CEO Rick Keyes said Thursday.

Located in Seven Hills and Boardman, Ohio, and Westfield, Indiana, the new stores promise “a state-of-the-art shopping experience,” providing customers multiple ways to shop in a specialty store environment.

“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,” Keyes said. “We look forward to providing a customer-focused store that offers fresh options and innovation to help reshape how customers shop for the groceries and items they need while keeping their families safe.”

Keyes said that various digital shopping solutions Meijer has developed will be equally popular at the new stores as they have been across the Midwest over the past 12 months. Customer usage of Shop & Scan, which allows shoppers to scan barcodes via a mobile app and bag their items as they shop, has made checkout easier. The Meijer Home Delivery and Pickup services have also helped encourage social distancing in communities across the Midwest.

Known for grocery options like more than 600 varieties of farm-fresh produce, 150 USD-certified organic items, and a full-service meat department, the new Meijer stores also offer a pharmacy and a range of general merchandise items more often found in specialty stores. That includes everything from women’s apparel – with on-trend styles in every size, on the same rack, at the same price – to beauty care, an expansive baby department and a pet department that offers 200 pet toys, 500 varieties of treats for dogs and cats and premium foods.

The new stores are currently operating under adjusted hours and maintaining coronavirus safety measures, according to the company. Inside stores, safety decals are visible on the floor where customers typically gather, and protective plexiglass shields are at every checkout station. To help ensure the continued health and safety of its team members and customers, Meijer continues to require that face coverings be worn by anyone entering a Meijer store or Meijer Express station at all locations except where medical conditions prevent someone from wearing one.

Prior to opening its doors, each of the stores showed support to its community by making more than $25,000 in donations to local organizations. The Boardman store made donations to Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, the Youngstown Chapter of Inspiring Minds and the Mahoning Valley Second Harvest Food Bank. The Seven Hills location made donations to the Cleveland American Veterans Association, All Faiths Food Pantry and the City of Seven Hills. The new store in Westfield made donations to the YMCA of Westfield, the Westfield Education Foundation and Westfield Youth Sports of Indiana.

Meijer donates more than 6% of its net profit to charitable organizations annually, and each of its stores work with local food banks and pantries to help fight hunger. Since 2008, the retailer’s Simply Give program has generated more than $62 million for its food pantry partners throughout the Midwest.

“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 said. “We are looking forward to providing the important items our customers need in the cleanest shopping environment as we work together in the new communities that have welcomed us.”