Meijer Opens New Supercenters In Flossmoor And Round Lake Beach

Retailer brings low prices, fresh produce delivered daily and drive-thru pharmacies to Chicagoland suburbs

Grand Rapids, MI /PRNewswire/ - Meijer opened new 192,000-square-foot supercenters today in Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach, Ill. bringing shoppers more convenient access to low prices on fresh produce delivered daily, high-quality merchandise and a full-service pharmacy that makes family health care a priority.

"We always work hard to find locations that will bring a fresher retail approach to communities, so we are proud to provide our new neighbors in Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach with our incredible combination of selection and quality at lower prices," CEO Hank Meijer said. "The enthusiasm and anticipation from both Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach has been tremendous because they've never had a one-stop shopping destination like Meijer so close to home. We're proud to be the retailer to fill that void."

The two new stores are part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores Meijer is making this year, which is creating 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer's six-state foot print. The Flossmoor store is located on Crawford Ave. and Vollmer Rd. The Round Lake Beach store will attract residents of Lake and Cook counties and is located at SR-83 and E. Rollins Rd.

With 19 stores spread throughout the Chicagoland suburbs, the new stores are built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be open 24 hours a day. The grocery options that Meijer offers include more than 600 varieties of farm-fresh produce and a full-service meat department that features fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef and custom cuts of meat. The bakery specializes in custom-decorated cakes and fresh bread baked four times daily.

Opening celebrations began with a ribbon-cutting event at each store, followed by remarks from Meijer leadership and local officials. The stores also demonstrated their commitment to the community by making donations to local organizations. Flossmoor Store Director Becky Beketic presented $25,000 to Flossmoor School District 161 and $25,000 to the Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163 to help establish a STEM program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at the district's five schools. Store Director Dean Hutson presented $25,000 to Round Lake High School for a new scoreboard at its football and soccer stadium.

As part of its ongoing community support, Meijer donates more than 7 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations annually, and each of its stores works with local food pantries and banks to help fight hunger at the local level. Since 2008, the retailer's Simply Give program has generated more than $21 million for its food pantry partners throughout the Midwest.

In addition to the retailer's traditional grocery and merchandise, garden center and 24-hour gas stations, the new Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach Meijer pharmacies will offer drive-thru pick up and the company's free prescription program. The prescription program includes leading oral generic antibiotics with a special focus on prescriptions most often filled for children, prenatal vitamins and medications for those with diabetes and high cholesterol. Since its inception in 2006, the Meijer free prescription program has filled nearly 33 million free prescriptions, saving Meijer customers nearly $454 million.

"Customers are our top priority, so we're ready to provide our neighbors in Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach the clean, friendly shopping experience we are best known for," Meijer President Rick Keyes said. "Whether it's a quick meal for the family, getting your yard ready for summer or seeking answers about a health concern, these supercenters represent our ongoing commitment to help provide a healthier balanced lifestyle for anyone who steps through our door."

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 228 supercenters and grocery stores throughoutMichigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronics offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @/Meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.