New and remodeled stores in the Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover chains last year began taking on a new look as part of parent Ahold’s mission to turn retail banners into powerful consumer brands.
Low prices, great food, engaging experience and reliability are the four “pillars” of the Giant and Stop & Shop brands, represented by the four colored semicircles in the logo.
Carl Schlicker, the former Giant-Carlisle chief executive, is now CEO of Stop & Shop and Giant. He described the retailer’s presence in major population markets on the East Coast “a target-rich environment.”
Stores use fresh prepared foods such as soups to communicate a quality image.
Perimeter departments such as bakery have been redesigned.
A redesigned deli speaks to non-price elements of the Value Improvement Program — VIP — that is helping reverse a long stretch of declining sales at Giant and Stop & Shop.
Stores are developing the Nature’s Promise natural/organic brand is a prestige private label.
Shelf tags are designed to recall related television advertisements and call out prices for the same items as checked against competitors.
Stores endeavor to improve convenience with technologies such as EasyShop scanners and self-checkout.
New technologies like handheld scanners also seek to add value to the shopping experience.
Remodeled Stop & Shop and Giant stores look increasingly similar.