Content about Hank Meijer

March 26, 2013
Meijer launches Simply Give donation campaign

Meijer will fund local food pantries by doubling every customer's $10 donation next month, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will fund local food pantries by doubling every customer's $10 donation next month, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

As part of the spring "Simply Give" campaign, the company will double donations made April 12-13 to restock shelves of pantries that were depleted during the holidays. Meijer said customers have donated nearly $5 million — equal to 30 million meals — since November 2008.

February 13, 2013
Meijer to build six new stores, remodel five in 2013

Meijer plans to invest more than $160 million to build six new stores and remodel five in 2013, the mass merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Meijer plans to invest more than $160 million to build six new stores and remodel five in 2013, the mass merchandise retailer announced Wednesday.

The company said the new stores will be in Swartz Creek, Mich.; Detroit; Portage, Ind.; Warsaw, Ind.; Danville, Ill.; and Evergreen Park, Ill. The remodel projects include stores in Lansing, Taylor, Flint and Grand Rapids, Mich., and Springfield, Ill. The company currently operates 199 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

January 15, 2013
Meijer appoints J.K. Symancyk as president

Meijer has appointed J.K. Symancyk as president of the company, the mass merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has appointed J.K. Symancyk as president of the company, the mass merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

Meijer said Symancyk's new role came one year after he assumed the role of COO, while Mark Murray has been appointed to the new position of co-CEO, serving with current CEO Hank Meijer. Symancyk's new position will officially begin Feb. 3.

September 18, 2012
Meijer offers Lipitor generic for free

It’s a little hard not to say “Oh, how the mighty have fallen” when a retailer announces that it will give away for free what was once the world’s top-selling drug. But for retailers, it also makes good business sense.


It’s a little hard not to say “Oh, how the mighty have fallen” when a retailer announces that it will give away for free what was once the world’s top-selling drug. But for retailers, it also makes good business sense.


September 12, 2012
Meijer's Simply Give Week garners more than $400K in donations

Meijer's Simply Give Week garnered more than $145,000 in donations from its customers. The effort, combined with the commitment from Meijer to double all donations made Sept. 2 to 8, brought the week's total donation to $437,400, Meijer co-chairman Hank Meijer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's Simply Give Week garnered more than $145,000 in donations from its customers. The effort, combined with the commitment from Meijer to double all donations made Sept. 2 to 8, brought the week's total donation to $437,400, Meijer co-chairman Hank Meijer said.

Meijer launched Simply Give Week to support Hunger Action Month in September and highlights its continuing commitment to hunger relief.

September 4, 2012
Meijer offers generic Lipitor for free

In what could symbolize the so-called "patent cliff" that an executive from healthcare market research firm IMS Health spoke of at a recent trade show, a regional mass merchandise chain is taking what used to be the world's top-selling drug and giving it away for free.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In what could symbolize the so-called "patent cliff" that an executive from healthcare market research firm IMS Health spoke of at a recent trade show, a regional mass merchandise chain is taking what used to be the world's top-selling drug and giving it away for free.

August 27, 2012
Meijer takes action against hunger

Meijer will double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made Sept. 2 to 8 in support of Hunger Action Month.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made Sept. 2 to 8 in support of Hunger Action Month.

The Simply Give Week double match is part of a $1 million donation to the retailer's 2012 Simply Give program, which aims to replenish the shelves of nearly 200 food pantries in its five-state region campaign.

June 15, 2012
Meijer celebrates 50th anniversary of supercenter concept

It has been 50 years since Hendrik and Fred Meijer opened "Thrifty Acres" in Grand Rapids, Mich., marking the birth of the nation's pioneering supercenter and an innovative concept that grew into a retail phenomenon.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It has been 50 years since Hendrik and Fred Meijer opened "Thrifty Acres" in Grand Rapids, Mich., marking the birth of the nation's pioneering supercenter and an innovative concept that grew into a retail phenomenon.

"They didn't realize it at the time, but our father and grandfather were making history when they opened 'Thrifty Acres' in June 1962," stated Hank Meijer, co-chairman. "The store offered groceries and general merchandise and enabled customers to enjoy 'one-stop shopping.'"

March 29, 2012
Meijer acquires Michigan dairy

Mass merchandise chain Meijer has acquired a Michigan-based dairy, the company said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mass merchandise chain Meijer has acquired a Michigan-based dairy, the company said.

Meijer announced the purchase of Bareman's Dairy, a family-owned company based in Holland, Mich., and the intention of investing more than $8 million into expansion of the plant.

January 27, 2012
Meijer appoints COO

Meijer announced Friday some structural changes to its business, including the appointment of a chief operating officer, a newly created position.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced Friday some structural changes to its business, including the appointment of a chief operating officer, a newly created position.

Meijer said its EVP merchandising and marketing J.K. Symancyk will serve in the new role. Symancyk will report Meijer president Mark Murray.

January 24, 2012
Local flavor: Meijer's Michigan stores to feature food products made in the state

Meijer's stores in Michigan will "prominently" feature 49 products made in the state as part of a program to promote local businesses, the mass merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's stores in Michigan will "prominently" feature 49 products made in the state as part of a program to promote local businesses, the mass merchandise retailer said.

The chain is partnering with the Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources to launch the "Made in Michigan" initiative, whereby 33 stores will feature 49 such grocery items as marinara sauce, blueberry butter, gluten-free baking mixes and gourmet seasonings in specially designated areas of the store starting on Sunday.

August 24, 2011
Meijer opens Marketplace format store in Chicago area

Meijer announced that it has opened a new, smaller-format grocery store in the Chicago area.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it has opened a new, smaller-format grocery store in the Chicago area.

The 90,000-sq.-ft. Meijer Marketplace store in Melrose Park will feature national and Meijer brand grocery items, along with a full-service pharmacy offering a variety of national and Meijer brand health and beauty products, the company reported.

July 26, 2011
Meijer opens small concept store in Chicago

Meijer announced that it is opening a new concept store in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park that will provide a tailored grocery offering and a broad variety of general merchandise.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it is opening a new concept store in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park that will provide a tailored grocery offering and a broad variety of general merchandise.

Called Meijer Marketplace, the new store will be 96,000 sq. ft., about half the size of Meijer's largest supercenters.

June 29, 2011
Meijer's prenatal vitamins Rx program fills 1 millionth prescription

Meijer's free prenatal vitamins prescription program filled its 1 millionth prescription this week, the company announced Wednesday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's free prenatal vitamins prescription program filled its 1 millionth prescription this week, the company announced Wednesday.

The retailer said that its program, which launched in May 2008, has garnered nearly $14 million in savings to Midwest families. The Meijer free prenatal vitamins program offers such brands as TriAdvance, Trinatal GT, Trinatal Ultra, Vol-Nate, Vol-Plus and Vol-Tab, and enables any customer, regardless of insurance or copay, to have his or her prenatal prescription filled free of charge.

March 14, 2011
Meijer to overhaul Mich., Ohio stores with $75 million investment

A Midwest retailer announced it would invest $75 million in a major remodel project that would benefit stores in two states.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Midwest retailer announced it would invest $75 million in a major remodel project that would benefit stores in two states.

Meijer said 10 stores in Michigan and Ohio would benefit from the initiative. The retailer projected that the remodeling program would be completed by the end of the year.

March 24, 2010
Meijer kicks off fifth 'Simply Give' campaign

For the fifth time in less than 18 months, Meijer is teaming up with its...