Dive Brief:

• Hannaford is hosting grand reopening celebrations to show off four remodeled stores in Maine, according to a company press release. The renovated stores are located in Portland, Westbrook, Gorham and Falmouth, Maine.
• Convenience is key in the revamped stores, which feature expanded in-store kitchens, a sushi chef, freshly prepared sandwiches and salads and a hot bar. Other offerings include a "pick your own six-pack" beer section, hand-battered fried chicken, stir-fry bars and grab-and-go seafood and deli items. The new stores are also outfitted with expanded produce departments. 
• Each remodeled location now offers Hannaford To Go, the banner's click-and-collect service and the retailer has added more self-checkout kiosks to the stores. The pharmacies in each store have also been expanded and are equipped with private consultation rooms.

Dive Insight:

Hannaford’s recent renovations reiterate the retailer's commitment to keeping pace with emerging trends and consumer demands, especially with the support of parent company Ahold Delhaize. 

"The new renovations show how Hannaford is investing in services like Hannaford To Go and offerings like our expanded kitchen that will provide even more options for our customers. We understand that with today’s busy lifestyle fresh and quality are still important—and we deliver on that promise," Hannaford's spokesperson said in a press release.

More ready-to-eat items is exactly what shoppers want right now, and the trend toward grab-and-go foods doesn't appear to be slowing down. Additionally, increasing fresh produce selection aligns with consumers' interest in healthier and fresher options as more shoppers look for healthy swaps, follow special diets and move toward more plant-based choices.

Introducing Hannaford To Go at more locations and expanding the self-checkout kiosks at each store will help the retailer keep pace with its local competitors. Shaw's parent company Albertsons recently enabled tracking for grocery delivery, which is available at Shaw's in addition to its other banners. 

Hannaford's parent company Ahold Delhaize has plans to keep competitors on their toes. The global retailer has a dedicated supply chain innovation arm, and has been experimenting with a number of digital efforts across its banners. Recently Ahold Delhaize announced plans to roll out an AI-powered supply chain intelligence solution that provides end-to-end forecasting and replenishment. The technology will be used at Hannaford, Food Lion, Giant, Giant/Martin's, Stop & Shop and Peapod brands over the next three years. 

Hannaford has been busy making a number of improvements to some of its 181 stores throughout Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. It has unveiled two other freshly renovated stores in Topsham and Auburn, Maine. Hannaford will also soon start construction on a new 50,000-square-foot store in Brunswick, Maine as well as two new locations in New York.