Meijer: How a Major Supercenter Chain Built Consistency Across Hundreds of Stores

Challenge

For retailers operating at Meijer’s scale, consistency is easier said than done.

Meijer is one of the largest privately owned supercenters in the U.S. Each store has its own footprint, layout, and operational requirements. Remodel programs, signage updates, and store refreshes required coordination across more than 5,000 unique signs and graphic elements per store, multiple stakeholders, and a wide range of store formats.

Like many large retailers, the company had historically relied on multiple vendors to support different parts of store execution. While each vendor was an excellent resource, a network of them meant increased complexity, longer lead times, inconsistent specifications, and heavy administrative effort to keep projects moving.

The challenge became even greater as customer expectations evolved.

As Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) adoption accelerated, store teams needed more efficient ways to locate products and fulfill orders without disrupting customers’ shopping experience. Meijer needed a solution — and a partner — capable of supporting both operational efficiency and customer experience, while helping maintain consistency across the chain.

Recognizing the need for a more holistic approach, Meijer turned to Imagine to help it create a scalable execution model that could support consistent store environments across its growing network.

Solution

Imagine became Meijer’s single partner for managing and executing store environment programs, from planning and engineering through production, installation, and ongoing verification.

The comprehensive program includes:

• Store-specific floor plans, elevations, and CAD development

• Custom sign manuals containing specifications, installation instructions, and visual guidelines

• Sign indexing with detailed part descriptions, materials, hardware requirements, and production specifications

• Production and installation management across multiple store formats

• Photographic verification and project visibility through Dotti Verify

• Location-specific kitting and fulfillment services

• Custom wayfinding systems designed to improve order-picking efficiency for store teams

Imagine worked side by side with architects, designers, contractors, and store teams to standardize execution while accommodating the unique requirements of individual locations. And through Dotti™,Meijer gained real-time visibility into project progress, installation compliance, and asset tracking.

To support growing BOPIS demand, Imagine also developed a custom wayfinding solution featuring discreet aisle-level location markers that empower faster product identification and order fulfillment. The system was engineered, prototyped, and produced entirely in-house to ensure quality, speed, and cost efficiency.

Scale of execution

Results

By consolidating vendors and creating a more connected execution model, Meijer transformed how store environments are planned, deployed, and maintained.

The partnership with Imagine delivered:

• A 67% reduction in lead times

• A 300% increase in annual store opening and remodeling capacity

• Reduced project management complexity through a single execution partner

• Greater visibility, accuracy, and compliance through Dotti Verify

• Faster and more accurate order fulfillment through custom wayfinding systems

• Consistent store environments across a diverse portfolio of store formats

Today, Imagine supports graphics, decor, signage, remodel initiatives, and day-to-day store execution across much of Meijer's network footprint, helping make sure that each location delivers the experience customers expect and that store teams have the tools they need to operate efficiently.

As retailers continue to balance customer experience, operational efficiency, and growth, Meijer's approach demonstrates what becomes possible when store environments are managed as a connected system rather than a collection of individual projects.

Because when every store works the way it should, customers notice … even if they never think about why.