Food Lion to unveil upgraded South Carolina stores

This week, Food Lion is set to hold grand reopenings of 92 upgraded stores in the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and Charleston, S.C., areas.

The Ahold Delhaize USA grocery chain said each store, also including renovated locations in Lumberton, N.C., will open to the public at 8 a.m. on Wednesday after ribbon-cutting ceremonies. As part of the events, the first 100 customers in line will get a Food Lion reusable grocery bag, a Food Lion branded apron and a $10 gift card, and one shopper will get a $250 card. Later in the day, Food Lion will give out another round of $10 gift cards to 100 customers at all of the stores.

Besides the remodels, Food Lion’s $158 million capital investment for the 92 stores includes the hiring of 2,000 more associates and community contributions, including the donation of two mobile trucks to area food banks.

With the project’s completion, Food Lion has upgraded 80% of its approximately 1,030 stores across its 10-state operating area in the Southeast over the past four years.

“We're excited to bring these improvements to our 92 local stores," Food Lion President Meg Ham said in a statement on the latest round of store remodels. "We've created a new grocery shopping experience through the significant investments in our stores, associates and communities.”

Related:Food Lion adds grocery pickup at more than 100 stores

Food Lion noted that the upgraded stores are easier to navigate and shop so customers can “get in, out and on your way quickly.” For example, customers will find a more efficient checkout process and as well as enhanced signage and groupings of like products, enabling them to locate items faster.

The remodeled stores also carry a wider variety of products relevant to customers in the surrounding communities, such as more local, natural, organic and gluten-free items, according to Food Lion. That includes more local produce in a new “Local Goodness” section plus an expanded variety of craft beer and limited reserve wines.

Other improvements include store-made fried chicken and a broader assortment of meals, grab-and-go items and presliced deli meat and cheese in the deli department; a bigger selection of fresh produce and meat; and a larger offering of beef, pork, poultry, milk, eggs, bottled water, cereal, coffee and other items under the Nature’s Promise natural/organic store brand.

In addition, six of the South Carolina stores — in Andrews, Columbia, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown and Ravenel — will house walk-in produce coolers designed to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for a longer period of time.

Related:Food Lion plans more store upgrades in Virginia

“From our expanded variety and product assortment, newly reorganized stores, to a more efficient checkout experience, every change we’ve made will make it easier for our customers to find the quality products they have come to expect from Food Lion,” Ham added. “When coupled with our weekly sales and promotions, customers will see that we have made it easier for them to nourish their families with healthy foods on a budget.”