School’s out forever

Summer officially began this past weekend as temperatures surged nationwide and Target and other major retailers kick-off promotions in advance of Memorial Day weekend and the end of school. Target went for the margin with offers featured in its Sunday circular including a wide range of summer kids clothes priced at $3 and $4 on the cover. Inside, $8 flip flops, $14 bikinis, workout wear and young men’s casual items were featured. Memorial Day weekend means cookouts for a lot of people and Target offered a couple of opening-price-point grills and a bag of Kingsford Match Light brand charcoal, but overall food took a back seat to apparel and electronics in Target’s promotional efforts. That situation will change in the years ahead as P-Fresh store offer expanded grocery and fresh food items comprise a larger percentage of the company’s store based. By the end of the third quarter, Target expects it will have a total of 450 P-Fresh stores out of a 1,750 total stores.