This is the latest installment of the Big-Box Briefing, a weekly Modern Retail+ column about the strategies of major retailers. More from the series →Target has entered a new era of trendy snacks, creating more space for products like protein bars and meat sticks as part of a massive refresh of its grocery business.The retailer saw sales of snacks increase 15% year over year in the second quarter, according to the company’s latest earnings release. The company said it added more space for snacks, as well as fresh food, bakery and other emerging categories within its grocery areas. Second-quarter food and beverage sales at Target rose about 7% over the past year.
This comes as Target has completed its largest reset of center-store grocery in more than a decade, Cara Sylvester, evp and chief merchandising officer for Target, told reporters prior to the company’s earnings release.
“Our aspiration is to move our food business from a basket builder while you’re at Target to actually a reason why you come to Target,” Sylvester said. “That’s why we made such a significant bet in food this year.”
The company changed the presentation of almost half of its center-store grocery assortment, Sylvester added during the company’s conference call with investors Wednesday morning. This included both end caps and in-aisle presentation. She said the company was focused on giving more space to products centered on wellness, global flavors, newness and emerging brands — where the company believes consumers’ buying habits are headed and where Target can provide a unique assortment.
