Giant Food to open its newest Maryland store on Friday

Regional grocery chain Giant Food on Friday will open its newest Maryland location, a 56,000-square-foot market in Crofton, replacing an older location in the area, the retailer announced on Monday.

"This new store is designed to be a true one-stop shop for the Crofton community," said Ira Kress, president of Giant Food, in a statement. "We look forward to delivering excellent value, an expanded assortment of fresh and convenient solutions, and a significantly improved shopping experience."

The new store at 1649 Crofton Center has an expanded gourmet cheese department, fresh-made sushi and pizza, Starbucks café and a full-service pharmacy. Giant's Healthy Living Team of licensed nutritionists will also offer free consultations and online nutrition classes and webinars. The new supermarket will offer pickup and delivery through Giant Food’s app and website.

The new location will employ 200 workers and will replace the Giant Food location in Gambrills, Maryland, about 15 minutes away. There will be no interruption of service as the new store will open the following morning after the nearby location closes.

Earlier this month the regional grocer, which was founded in 1936 and operates 165 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., said it is amplifying its local focus with a new advertising campaign, “Find Your Local.”

Running through the end of the year and featuring four vignettes from actual Giant shoppers—Marcellus, Isabelle, Diane and Courtney—the campaign consists of TV, radio, social media, mobile, digital, in-store and out-of-home spots.

“Few retailers can claim to be as truly local as Giant. The chain started 86 years ago in downtown D.C. and grew to what it is today—a staple in every neighborhood. No other grocer knows the local unique tastes and traditions as well as Giant, and this campaign is a perfect reflection of that,” said DC-Metro area creative shop RP3 Agency Founder-CEO Beth Johnson.