"We're excited!" Meijer announces opening date for first two supercenters in Wisconsin

GRAFTON/KENOSHA (WITI) – A little more than two years after announcing it was considering expansion into Wisconsin, Meijer has confirmed the opening date for its first two supercenters. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer will open its Grafton and Kenosha stores on Tuesday, June 23rd, Co-Chairman Hank Meijer said.

"We're extremely eager to finally open our doors to Wisconsin," Hank Meijer said. "We've been telling southeastern Wisconsin residents for months that they will love our fresh grocery options, wide selection of general merchandise and overall value. Now we're excited to prove it as we open our first two stores in Grafton and Kenosha, with more to come later this summer."

Meijer leadership and local dignitaries will dedicate the first day of business with a ribbon cutting ceremony at each store. As part of its grand opening celebration, the retailer will feature special promotions and events beginning on June 25th. The Grafton and Kenosha supercenters are the first of four that will open this year in southeastern Wisconsin, with locations in Oak Creek and Wauwatosa on track to open in August.

The retailer now has 215 stores throughout the Midwest and has grown steadily by focusing on fresh grocery options, value to customers and community partnership. The new supercenters will feature fresh produce, meat and dairy delivered seven days a week, and a bakery offering fresh bread baked four times daily. As Meijer stores are open 24 hours a day, customers will have access to these offerings around the clock.

The stores will also feature a pharmacy offering the company’s free prescription program, which 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.

The retailer has a strong family and corporate tradition of caring by giving more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations each year, including significant support of hunger relief initiatives in the communities it serves. Meijer established relationships with Milwaukee area food banks before breaking ground on its new stores and donated more than 216,000 pounds of food to the Hunger Task Force and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

There are still team member openings for the Meijer stores in Oak Creek and Wauwatosa stores. The hourly positions will be part- and full-time across a wide array of skill sets, but ideal candidates will possess a desire to develop as part of the Meijer team and provide exceptional customer service. Potential candidates can begin the hiring process by applying online at http://jobs.meijer.com/newstore.