Grand Rapids–based Meijer Inc. is preparing to expand into its seventh state with plans for a supercenter north of Pittsburgh.
The company has confirmed it has purchased property in Western Pennsylvania and submitted plans for a 159,000-square-foot store in Cranberry Township, a fast-growing Pittsburgh suburb. If approved, it would be Meijer’s first location in the state, adding to more than 500 stores the family-owned retailer operates in six Midwestern states.
Meijer did not provide an opening date but said it is “excited about the prospect” of serving new customers in the region. The move would put Meijer in direct competition with Giant Eagle, the dominant grocer in the Pittsburgh market.
In following up on the Meijer Pittsburgh plans, a couple of interesting numbers were noted. An ‘average’ Meijer store generates $60 to $70 Million dollars in sales annually. Meijer employs more than 70,000 workers over the existing six-state chain in more than 500 stores. At least 125 Meijer stores are in Michigan, more than Walmart and about twice as many as Target.
Locally, Meijer operates stores in Benton Harbor, Stevensville and South Haven, plus multiple stores in South Bend/Elkhart and Kalamazoo/Portage.
