Last summer, Food Lion began surveying its customers about what they would like to see in its stores. The grocery chain has responded and last week began testing a number of changes in stores in the Raleigh, NC and Chattanooga, TN markets. Food Lion has cut prices on 6,000 items, increased staffing levels for better service, upgraded its produce departments and reorganized shelves to make it easier to shop its stores. If the test proves a success, Food Lion plans to roll out the changes to all its 1,200 stores in the Southeast.
Cathy Green Burns, president of Food Lion, said the changes are intended to keep the chain competitive over the long haul.
"The model is not broken; it's still a very profitable operation," she told The News & Observer. "We just want to make sure it's going to be sustainable."
The retailer is also opening new stores, including a 35,000 square-foot unit in March located in Fayetteville, NC, that was the chain's second Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified store in the state.
The store's produce section, according to The Fayetteville Observer, is set up to look like a farmers' market. Organic products are available throughout.
Greg Beaman, a merchandise specialist for Food Lion, said the store includes another green initiative that you don't see in other supermarkets. "To encourage bicycle travel, we got a little bicycle shop where we can fix your tire, and spaces out in the parking lot to encourage carpooling," he told the Observer.