What is Meijer?
Meijer is a family-owned, regional retailer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We have more than 240 supercenters in six states including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Wisconsin, and employ approximately 70,000 team members.
Tell me about Meijer’s history.
In 1934, Hendrik Meijer saw an opportunity to take care of the customers who visited his Greenville, Michigan barbershop. He purchased $338.75 worth of merchandise on credit, and together with his 14-year-old son Fred, opened Meijer’s Grocery. In 1962, Hendrik and Fred revolutionized retail by breaking down the barriers between selling groceries, clothing and hardware, opening the first ever supercenter. Today, Meijer remains family-owned and now is one of the largest privately-owned companies in America. Named “Retailer of the Year” by the grocery industry’s largest trade publication,Progressive Grocer, Meijer’s supercenters average 150,000 to 250,000 sq. ft. and stock more than 220,000 items.
What makes Meijer different from other stores?
Meijer stores offer all the convenience and value you’d expect from the company that pioneered the supercenter concept, along with the fresh, high-quality food and friendliness you’d want from your local hometown grocer. We’re able to bring this hometown feel to our stores by virtue of being a smaller, family-owned, regional retailer based in the Midwest. We have a close-knit team and, at the individual store level, our team members are very plugged into their communities and are empowered to make decisions based on what their local customers need and want. And, this does not apply only to store merchandise, which is tailored to fit local needs and often includes locally grown and locally produced items, but also to our community engagement programs. We work hard to make a difference in the areas that matter most to our customers and team members in each community.
What is sold in a typical Meijer store?
A typical store has a fresh grocery area, often featuring locally grown produce; a full-service deli; a fresh meat counter offering custom cuts of the highest quality meat, just as you’d get from a local butcher shop; a wine, beer and spirits selection; a drive-up pharmacy; and a health and beauty area. A Meijer store also offers general merchandise such as clothing, electronics, toys and sporting goods, as well as seasonal items, such as a garden center in the spring and holiday décor around Christmastime.
It’s also important to note that the merchandise varies by store; we listen to our customers and do our best to meet the unique needs of each community, carrying the particular items they need and want including, in many cases, locally produced items.
What is our approach to community involvement?
In every community where we locate a store, we become an important community partner, supporting many organizations that are near and dear to the hearts of the people who live there. When you get a Meijer store, you also get a great neighbor. The company supports a wide variety of nonprofit organizations by donating more than 6 percent of its net profit to charity each year, and sponsoring hundreds of community events.
