All Meijer Lighting to Go Full LED by 2021

All of Meijer’s stores across its six-state footprint will sport LED interior lighting by 2021, the company has revealed as part of an ongoing effort to grow sustainability initiatives.

The Midwestern mass merchandiser plans to reduce its lighting electrical use by up to half annually, using equipment from GE, Cooper and Phillips. The changes will transition all lighting, including ceiling and spotlight illumination.

According to the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, LED lights are 70 percent more efficient, improve lighting quality and have a lifespan more than twice that of traditional lighting. Meijer’s first all-LED store opened in 2013 in Beavercreek, Ohio.

"Our Beavercreek location served as a great test that led us down the path to planning a full-chain transition across our six-state footprint," said Rick Keyes, president and CEO of Meijer. "The lighting quality made possible by LEDs enhances the shopping experience for our customers and the work environment for team members, while significantly decreasing energy usage."

The four-year project launched in June with Meijer’s 100-plus Michigan stores. The retailer will phase in other Meijer locations state by state within its footprint so that stores can remain open during the installation process.

Energy efficiency has been a key focus for Meijer since 2005, with the retailer decreasing energy usage in stores by 25 percent per square foot. Since 2007, all Meijer stores have been built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

Meijer operates more than 240 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. It holds the No. 12 spot on Progressive Grocer’s 2018 Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States.