Content about Giant Food

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores collected nearly 3 tons of unused medications during a nationwide medication take-back day last month, the chain said.

Giant, owned by Dutch supermarket operator Ahold, said it and its Martin's Food Markets banner collected 5,843 lbs of unwanted and expired medications at 43 of its stores during the April 28 take-back event, doubling the amount collected last year.

LANCASTER, Pa. — One of the supermarket chains operated by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold has installed rooftop solar panels at two of its stores.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores — also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, also owned by Ahold — said it had installed solar photovoltaic systems at stores in Lancaster and Pottstown, Pa.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the sale of 16 of its Genuardi's stores in the greater Philadelphia area to Giant Food Stores, a division of Ahold USA. Safeway will continue to operate these stores until the transaction closes, and the company is working through an orderly transition for all of these stores.

In addition, Safeway plans to close three Genuardi's stores and sell the remaining eight Genuardi's stores, which it will continue to operate while it is working with potential buyers.

RICHMOND, Va. — Martin's Food Markets is donating 25 park benches made from recycled plastic grocery bags to Richmond and Williamsburg, Va., the supermarket chain said.

Martin's, part of Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa., also known as Giant-Carlisle, said the donation of benches to parks, schools and green spaces throughout the two communities was part of its "Bags to Benches" program. The chain also will donate 10 benches to the State Fair of Virginia.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has appointed a former Walmart executive to head its Landover, Md.-based Giant Food division, the supermarket operator said Tuesday.

YORK, Pa. — WellSpan Health is planning to open this fall three CareExpress walk-in health clinics in York County, Pa., of which two clinics will be located inside Giant Food Stores.

According to WellSpan Health's website, the first clinic is slated to open in DJ Plaza in September. The other two clinic locations will open in October within the Giant Food Stores.

PHILADELPHIA — Giant-Carlisle plans to open its first store in Philadelphia next week, the grocery chain said.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food is donating nearly $2 million to schools in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia as part of its 2010-2011 A+ School Rewards program, the Royal Ahold banner said Wednesday.

The program, which has operated for 22 years, allows customers to support school programs every time they use their Giant card at a Giant Food store.

FEASTERVILLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores plans to open a new store near Philadelphia on March 16, the Carlisle, Pa.-based Royal Ahold banner said.

Giant-Carlisle acquired the 53,000-sq.-ft. former Genuardi’s store from Safeway in Feasterville, Pa., in November 2010 and said the renovated store will look more like a modern Giant prototype.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food this week said that over the course of 2010, the supermarket chain donated more than 2.4 million lbs. of food to local hunger-relief organizations.

The chain said that its support for area food banks will continue throughout 2011 as it celebrates 75 years in the Washington metropolitan region.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board on Tuesday announced it temporarily will close Pronto wine kiosks statewide to address mechanical and technological issues.

The kiosks were located in 30 supermarkets across the state, including in Giant Food, Wegmans Food Market, Giant Eagle, The Fresh Grocer and Shop 'n Save stores.