Dive Brief:
- SpartanNash announced Tuesday the reopening of its Family Fare in Sparta, Michigan.
- The store marks the second pilot location for the company’s grocery store modernization strategy.
- SpartanNash said it lowered prices on more than 6,000 products to reinforce its focus on value for shoppers.
Dive Insight:
SpartanNash’s store modernization strategy focuses on fresh products, convenience and value. The company said that the store in Sparta refines key offerings from the company’s first pilot store in Holland, Michigan, which opened in August.
The Sparta store has a layout designed to highlight the fresh produce, floral and bakery departments, according to the announcement. The store features items that have been “popular” at the Holland pilot such as:
- $20 healthy meal kits that take 20 minutes or less to prepare,
- a “chef-driven” grain bowl program,
- curated specialty cheeses,
- fried sandwiches,
- a beef jerky bar,
- a candy station and
- “flavorful” mac and cheese options.
SpartanNash said that insights gained from the two pilot locations will inform future Family Fare remodels.
“Our goal with this project long-term is to continue listening closely to both our shoppers and Associates, evolving and shaping the future of grocery shopping with solutions that truly meet the needs of the communities we serve,” SpartanNash Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer Bennett Morgan said in the announcement.
The store pilots come at a time when SpartanNash is trying to improve its financial performance. During its most recent quarter, SpartanNash recorded a decline in net and comparable-store sales and saw both its retail and wholesale operations lose ground for the third quarter in a row. CEO Tony Sarsam told investors in August that the company’s “merchandising transformation” is starting to pay off.
SpartanNash runs 147 brick-and-mortar grocery stores primarily under the Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market banners, as well as pharmacies and fuel centers.
