Target Names Industry Vet to Revive Food Aisles

Target this week named industry veteran Anne Dament to the role of senior vice president of merchandising, charging her with leading the strategic repositioning of the retailer’s food business.Dament's background includes more than a decade at Safeway, where she worked with current Target chief executive officer Brian Cornell and is credited with introducing new initiatives in assortments and merchandising, including meal solutions and grab-and-go options, as group vp, perishable strategy — one of her many roles with the grocer. She joins Target from PetSmart, where she most recently was vice president of services. Her resume additionally includes stints at Supervalu, ConAgra Foods subsidiary Grist Mill Co., and Otis Spunkmeyer. She succeeds grocery chief Tim Mantel, who resigned a few months ago.The appointment has been anticipated since Cornell announced plans to reposition the food business with an emphasis on six key categories. Target wants to boost differentiation while expanding the availability of natural, organic, locally grown and gluten-free options.Six years ago, the retailer began adding an expanded “P-Fresh” grocery assortment to stores that was then hailed as a bounty for sales which have since plateaued.Now, Target aims to bring the cheap chic touch that made it famous to the food department. As part of this strategy, the company is already boosting exclusive organic and sustainable products under the Made to Matter platform introduced last year.“Our guests tell us they expect Target to inspire them with differentiated food offerings as we do in other areas,” Cornell said in a media release. “We have an opportunity to make food more reflective of our brand, elevate the shopping experience and make Target a food destination.”Dament starts April 20. Significant changes are expected to hit stores next year.

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