Retailer plans $158 million capital investment

SALISBURY, N.C. — Ahold Delhaize’s Food Lion chain said Monday that it will remodel 92 stores in the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., markets this year. The $158 million capital investment will fund the remodels as well as price reductions, expanded assortments and increased staffing at the stores.

“Food Lion is proud to have been a part of the many towns and cities we serve throughout South Carolina for 43 years and we are even more excited to bring exciting new offerings, services and a new look to these markets,” Food Lion president Meg Ham said in a statement. “We look forward to making significant investments in our stores, our associates and our communities to offer a new grocery shopping experience. Our mission is to ensure our customers can easily find fresh, quality products to nourish their families at affordable prices every day, delivered with caring, friendly service every time they shop. We look forward to reintroducing our renovated stores later this summer.”

The retailer said the revamped stores will also offer an assortment that is tailored to each store’s community, possibly including more local, natural, organic and gluten-free items. The stores will also feature enhanced deli/bakery service and an enhanced customer service, which is the result of new customer-centric training for associates at every store.

Six stores (in the towns of Andrews, Columbia, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown and Ravenel, S.C.) will have walk-in produce coolers designed to keep produce fresher, longer. Other special features will include hand-battered fried chicken made in the store and sold in the deli/bakery department, and more local beer and wine options, and more natural and organic selections.

The 92 stores will remain open with regular hours during the remodeling process, according to the retailer. Once this set of store remodels is complete, Food Lion will have remodeled 80%t of its network of more than 1,000 stores across 10 states.