LANDOVER, Md. -- Giant Food here is testing the company's first integrated meals departments, in two stores that opened in mid-July.
rams for the company.
The new stores are doing business under both the Giant and Super G banners in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The units are located in Baileys Crossroads, Va., and Lower Makefield Township, Pa.
In the Baileys Crossroads store, the meals department takes up 1,700 square feet, including prep area; in the Lower Makefield Township store it occupies 2,500 square feet.
While the departments in the two stores have been set up as test operations, company officials are considering plans to include them in other new stores, according to Giant spokesman Barry Scher.
The meal centers offer both ready-to-eat and made-to-order meals. Each center features a variety of panini and deli-style sandwiches, a carving station, a hot pizza section, a hot pasta station, rotisserie chicken and other fully prepared meals.
A soup and salad bar, which Giant has already established in many stores, is located nearby in the two stores.
The menu in the meals center introduction is fixed, to give the company a chance to learn what works best with consumers, said Scher. All items are made in-store, including the fresh pasta, he said, and both stores maintain a chef on staff.
Six varieties of panini, seven varieties of pizza -- sold by the slice and whole -- and "dozens" of deli sandwich varieties are being sold in the department.
Rotisserie pork roast, roast beef and oven-roasted turkey are served at the carving station for full meals or as sandwich ingredients.
The stores also sell rotisserie chicken and turkey breast, fried chicken, chicken filet, meat loaf and chicken pot pie, with side dishes including mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, baked beans, zucchini, macaroni, cinnamon apples and scalloped potatoes. Children's size meals are also marketed here, said Scher.
