Target Makes New Hire To Overhaul Grocery Side

Target has brought on a grocery store veteran to its executive team to help overhaul its own grocery business, the retailer announced Monday (April 13).

Anne Dament will be joining as the Senior Vice President of Merchandising to lead what the company called a “strategic repositioning of Target’s food business.” Her background includes leading Safeway’s home care and general merchandising business operations, before serving as Group Vice President of Perishable Strategy. Dament joins Target after more than 19 years in the business.

“My very first job was in a local grocery store and I’ve had a passion for food ever since. Joining the team at Target gives me an opportunity to bring my professional experience and love of food to the organization as their transformation is just getting underway,” Dament said in a company news release.

Most recently, Dament served as a vice president level executive at PetSmart. She’s also worked at ConAgra Foods subsidiary Grist Mill Co. and Otis Spunkmeyer.

Through this new hire, Target announced it is overhauling its food business by focusing on six key categories that the company believes will better connect with its consumer base. This includes healthy snacks, coffee and tea, premium sauces and oils, specialty candy, wine and craft beer, and yogurt and granola. It’s also opening up the offerings to more natural, organic, locally grown and gluten-free choices. Most stores should see significant changes in 2016, Target said.

“Our guests tell us they expect Target to inspire them with differentiated food offerings like we do in other areas. We have an opportunity to make food more reflective of our brand, elevate the shopping experience and make Target a food destination for our guests,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said in the release. “Having previously worked alongside Anne, I know her industry expertise and proven ability to reinvigorate existing businesses make her the right leader to drive our reinvention.”