GIANT goes big on produce with new store

Carlisle, Pa.-based GIANT Food Stores is building a two-story flagship store in downtown Philadelphia that focuses on appealing to the growing population of consumers that desire plant-based foods.

The 65,000-square-foot store will feature a two-level format and offer over 600 varieties of fresh produce — the largest plant-based foods department in the company. It will overlook the Schuylkill River.

GIANT said the new store is part of its recent growth strategy and is in addition to a $70 million investment it announced in April 2018 to grow its store network in the Philadelphia area by constructing six new stores, remodeling two locations and opening four new fuel stations.

The store will open in the fall of 2020 and will create more than 200 new jobs.