Meijer expanding in Indiana
Meijer continues to expand its superstore footprint.
The Midwest retailer will open a 159,000-sq.-ft. store in Elkhart, Ind., on May 11, making it Meijer’s 42nd location in the state and 11th location in Northern Indiana. The company also operates manufacturing facility in Middlebury, Ind.
The new Meijer will feature grocery staples, fresh produce, bakery, meat and deli, as well as a floral area, garden center, pharmacy, pets, electronics, toys, sports and apparel. Additionally, a Meijer Express gas station will open on April 13, adjacent to the new supercenter.
Meijer opened its first store in Indiana in 1994, in Mishawaka, and has invested heavily in the state ever since. The retailer employs more than 10,000 team members statewide.
As Meijer continues to expand its signature store format, it also is piloting a new, smaller-sized concept. In January, the retailer debuted Meijer Grocery in two locations, with stores in Michigan’s Lake Orion and Macomb Township. With a footprint of 75,000- to 90,000-sq.-ft., Meijer Grocery has a condensed layout and is designed to simplify the shopping experience and provide a streamlined shopping experience.
Last month, Meijer announced an expansion of its Flashfood program, making it the first retailer nationwide to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the app that allows customers to purchase surplus close-dated food at a deep discount. The company initially launched Flashfood as a sustainability program focused on minimizing food waste in November 2019 at a handful of its supercenters in Metro Detroit. The service is now offered at all Meijer supercenters and Meijer Grocery stores and is used by more than 500,000 shoppers.
Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., Meijer operates 501 supercenters, Meijer Grocery, neighborhood markets and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. It has been a privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934.
Meijer’s roots go back to 1934 when Dutch immigrant Frederik Meijer opened a grocery store in Greenville, Mich. It offered staple items at bargain prices and was one of the first supermarkets to introduce shopping carts.
In 1987, Meijer opened the first Hypermarket USA stores in the United States, which led to the creation of Meijer supercenters, which sell clothing, electronics, sporting goods, toys, and automotive and household goods, as well as groceries.