Last updated on August 25th, 2022 at 03:27 pm
The Richmond, Va., region’s cutthroat grocery industry will become even more competitive this spring, reports the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Target has started remodeling three of its 12 Richmond-area stores to increase the number of grocery items at those locations by about 40 percent. More area stores could follow.
According to the Dispatch, the Minnesota-based retailer is remodeling two stores in Henrico County—at West Broad Street and Libbie Avenue and at West Broad Street near Short Pump—and its Midlothian Turnpike store across from Chesterfield Towne Center in Chesterfield County.
When the remodeling is completed, the stores will carry “basic fresh produce, fresh packaged meats and baked goods,” Target spokeswoman Erin Conroy told the Dispatch.
By adding those products, the newly remodeled stores will carry about 40 percent more food offerings than traditional Target stores.
Target began adding a larger assortment of grocery items, including dairy and frozen foods, to its area stores several years ago. The expansion at the three local stores takes its food offerings to the next level, according to the Dispatch.
The remodels, part of a nationwide effort, should be completed in March.
With such a big increase in the number of food products, Target is diving deeper into an already crowded pool fighting for a piece of the Richmond-area’s $3.23 billion in grocery spending, the Dispatch says.
Conroy told the Dispatch that Target is increasing its food offerings because that’s what customers want.
“Target introduced the expanded fresh food layout in response to research and feedback from guests that showed they wanted a fresh food selection in the convenience of their local store,” Conroy said.
Along with the increased number of food items, the remodel includes an upgrade of beauty department displays as well as ease of shopping changes to the home, baby and shoe departments, the Dispatch reports.
