Chain will spend $215 million to revamp 142 stores

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced on Wednesday that it will remodel its 142 stores in the Charlotte, N.C., area this year, at a cost of $215 million.

The project is part of an ongoing rebranding across its nearly 1,100 stores in 10 states. The campaign is dubbed “Easy, Fresh and Affordable. You Can Count on Food Lion Every Day!” and was launched in 2o14 with upgrades of 76 stores in the greater Wilmington, N.C., and Greenville, N.C., markets. It continued last year with remodels of 162 stores in the Raleigh, N.C., area.

“We’re proud to have been a part of the greater Charlotte community since 1957, and are excited to bring our newest format to our hometown market,” Meg Ham, Food Lion’s president, said in a statement. “As we near our 60^th anniversary in this market, we look forward to making significant investments in our stores, our customers, our associates and our communities to offer a new grocery shopping experience. We want 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.”

Food Lion said that once the remodels are completed, shoppers will be able to take advantage of “key benefits,” including:

• Fresh, new stores designed to be easier to navigate and shop so customers can get in and out of the store quickly.
• Expanded variety and assortment that is relevant to customers in each store, such as more local products, natural and organic selections, and healthier snack options.

These remodels should be completed on a rolling basis between May and October, Food Lion said.

The company also noted that a portion of the Charlotte-area investment would directly benefit the community. The grocer has committed $1.5 million to the expansion of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina’s warehouse. “Through this new facility, Second Harvest will provide the food bank with new capacity to broaden its already robust work to end hunger in the 16-county region it supports in the greater Charlotte area,” Food Lion noted. “The expansion will also offer access to healthier, fresher food so those in need can nourish their families and meet basic needs to help them get back on their feet.”

“Second Harvest and Food Lion have served the Charlotte community together for more than 25 years, and I’m thrilled our strong partnership will continue through the opening of the Food Lion Feeds Center, said Kay Carter, chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. “Food Lion’s associates are truly dedicated to making sure those who are hungry don’t have to make tough choices, whether it’s providing a fresh, healthy meal on the table or groceries in the pantry.”

Food Lion projects that it will donate 500 million meals to families in need through Food Lion Feeds through 2020.