Giant Food to expand footprint in Pennsylvania

Ahold Delhaize USA’s Giant Food Stores chain has unveiled a $70 million capital spending plan that includes new stores and new markets in its home state of Pennsylvania.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food said Tuesday that it plans to build six new supermarkets, make major remodels to two stores and add five new fuel stations in Pennsylvania during the next two years. With the new locations, the grocery chain will make its debut in East Stroudsburg and Walnutport.

Plans call for the East Stroudsburg and Walnutport stores, both with fuel stations, to open in 2019. 

The other four new stores — all replacing other locations — are slated to open this summer in Feasterville-Trevose, in late 2018 or early 2019 in State College, in early 2019 in Warrington and in late 2019 in Broomall.

"We are positioning the company for long-term growth, and we are excited to grow our presence within East Stroudsburg and Walnutport to better serve the families in those communities," Giant Food Stores president Nicholas Bertram said in a statement. "This year, Giant is celebrating our founding in Pennsylvania 95 years ago, so we're especially proud to make these new investments in our home state."

The stores being remodeled are in West Chester and Shrewsbury, which also is undergoing a 4,000-square-foot expansion. Giant Food said the renovations are designed to enhance the shopping experience, including enhanced store layouts that are easier for customers to navigate and complete their shopping trips more quickly.

In addition, the remodeled stores will feature a wider product assortment that Giant Food said is more relevant to the customers served, including more local products, a deeper selection of natural and organic items and healthier snack options. 

Along with the store projects, three new fuel stations are being added to current Giant Food locations in Lititz, Horsham and Bethlehem, where customers will be able to earn savings at the pump with the retailer’s Gas Extra Rewards program. The new sites will give the 103 fuel stations overall.

Giant added that, with the expansion, it will bring about 300 new full- and part-time jobs to the communities.

The supermarket chain noted that the new capital investment builds on recent projects. In February, a new warehousing facility for Peapod, Ahold Delhaize USA’s online grocery delivery service, was opened in tandem with Giant Food in North Coventry, Pa., to meet rising demand. The company said the new “wareroom” will enable Peapod and Giant Food to serve up to 25% more customers in the greater Philadelphia area, where Peapod has seen double-digit growth over the last three years.

Giant Food said it also continues to invest in its Beer & Wine Eateries, which now total 59 in Pennsylvania in the concept’s launch in 2011.

Overall, the chain has 171 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.