The Associated Press reports that Target has named Anne Dament, most recently vice president for services at PetSmart and before that group vice president for perishable strategy at Safeway, to revamp the company's food business as Senior Vice President, Merchandising.
Target CEO Brian Cornell has identified Target's food business, which generates roughly one-fifth of its annual revenue, as an area that needs to be overhauled over the next 12 to 18 months, with a focus on "making better-for-you options simple and attainable, providing meal solutions and offering unique selections for everyday occasions as well as entertaining."
Dament worked with Cornell when he was chief marketing officer at Safeway.
Target CEO Brian Cornell has identified Target's food business, which generates roughly one-fifth of its annual revenue, as an area that needs to be overhauled over the next 12 to 18 months, with a focus on "making better-for-you options simple and attainable, providing meal solutions and offering unique selections for everyday occasions as well as entertaining."
Dament worked with Cornell when he was chief marketing officer at Safeway.
- KC's View:
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I saw one analysis of this move that suggested Target needs to move quickly to establish the grocery side of its business, and position its supermarket business as a familiar and traditional option to grocery shoppers.
I only agree with half of that. The first part. Because it seems to me that, following up on Michael's column, Target needs to figure out how to be a disruptive influence when it comes to food shopping.
When I've gone into Target stores with food departments, it almost always has been my observation that they are simply too vanilla ... there is no compelling reason to shop there as opposed to someplace else.
I think if Target really wants to make a difference, it has to do something different.
You want to move the needle? Create an earthquake.
