DETROIT, MI – The Kroger Co. plans to open its largest store in Michigan at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2905 Union Lake Rd. in Commerce Township, as part of a $110 million investment the Cincinnati-based grocer plans in the state this year.
In addition to the 80,000-square-foot Commerce Township location, the company is opening a 114,000-square-foot store in Shelby Township in January, when a smaller location nearby will likely be shuttered.
Both new Metro Detroit stores will be about double the size of existing locations they are replacing, and will carry items beyond typical grocery store fare such as home goods and furniture.
The Commerce Township location, for example, will have an on-site wine and beverage steward and offer a “diverse organic produce selection,” the company said in a release announcing the store’s opening.
With its overall planned investment in Michigan this year, Kroger plans to hire about 2,000 new employees to supplement the growth, though about 90 percent of the positions will be part time. The retailer has about 130 locations in Michigan and some 17,000 employees.
Kroger has about 50 stores in metro Detroit, though it does not have a single location within the city of Detroit itself.
The Kroger Co. had $96.8 billion in total sales in 2012, a rise of 7.1 percent above 2011. It is one of the largest retailers in the United States based on annual sales, holding the No. 23 spot on Fortune 100 list published in May. It has about 2,500 supermarkets, and another 1,000 convenience and jewelry stores.
David Muller is the business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.