Weis Markets opens four stores in Cape Region
Business at the new Weis Markets in Lewes has been bustling since Oct. 14, the first day the Pennsylvania-based grocer opened its first stores in Delaware.
Store Manager Curt Stull said all checkouts were running and folks were excited to find out more about Weis.
“I've talked to a lot of people ..., and they're really pleased with the expanded variety,” he said. “We tried to keep the aisles very similar to what they were before. A few things we moved around because we ran out of space due to the extra variety.”
Weis also opened in Rehoboth Beach, Long Neck and Millville, taking over for Food Lion in each location.
Stull was the manager of the Lewes Food Lion prior to the conversion, working for the company for 18 years.
Jennifer Sands, Weis communications specialist, said most Food Lion employees were offered jobs in the new store. Weis also transferred the employees' tenure, Stull said.
“That's not something they had to do, so it speaks very well of the company,” he said.
Sands said Weis had two goals in opening in Delaware; continuity and adding more products to the market.
“I think one of the most important things is the continuity of associates,” she said. “Most of the associates here were with Food Lion. When customers come in, they will see all the same faces they're used to.”
In terms of adding, she said, Weis added 300 more produce items, expanded the seafood offerings, increased the organic and natural selections and introduced Weis' private brand products, including milk and ice cream made at their own dairy in Sunbury, Pa.
Weis also offers Fantastic Friday deals and a holiday rewards program where Club Card members can earn points toward a free turkey, ham or Stouffer's lasagna.
Weis are converting 38 Food Lion stores into their own in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. This comes as a result of a merger between Delhaize Group, parent company of Food Lion, and Ahold, parent company of Giant. It was announced July 13 that the companies had reached agreements with buyers to sell 86 stores in the Mid-Atlantic where the companies both operate.
Weis is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, go to www.weismarkets.com.
