Giant Foods planning big investments in Pa. stores
Company plans new locations, store remodels
Giant Food Stores Inc. will invest more than $114 million in capital investments in Pennsylvania over the next 18 months.
Giant, which is based in Carlisle, made the announcement at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg last week, joined by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin.
The company plans to build a Giant Direct ecommerce fulfillment center in Philadelphia, plans two new stores for the Harrisburg market and Pocono Summit, and will remodel 35 existing stores 2020 and 2021. In making the announcement, the company said it plans to build on the success of its two new brands — Giant Direct and Giant Heirloom Market.
A spokeswoman for the company said that it is too soon to say which Giant stores will be renovated.
“We’re doubling down on growth and innovation for our customers, building on the incredible momentum of 2019, and continuing to invest in our great Commonwealth,” , said in a statement. “The accelerated growth of Giant Direct has set the stage for additional investment opportunities that extend our ecommerce geographic reach. At the same time, our Giant Heirloom Market format has enabled us to reach an entirely new demographic in Philadelphia.”
During 2019, Giant Food Stores experienced “unprecedented growth,” according to a press release —
opening 17 new stores and launching the two new brands. In January, the company debuted its new Giant Heirloom Market format in Philadelphia, which has now grown to three locations in the city. And in February, Giant opened a first-of-its kind Giant Direct ecommerce hub in Lancaster. In 10 months, the number of Giant Direct grocery pick-up locations climbed from zero to 125. Giant Foods Stores Inc. operates 190 stores — 160 of them in Pennsylvania — including Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Berks counties. That number also includes Martin’s Food Markets and Giant Heirloom Market locations, according to a report in Supermarket News. The company has more than 33,000 employees across its geographic footprint in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.