In the News

If you plan on shopping for toys this weekend, Meijer may be a good place to go. The Michigan-based retailer is giving back to local children when shoppers purchase toys from the store.

Some years I'm on top of things, buying Christmas gifts in June and July and smugly tucking them away in a closet. And then there's this year. Let's just say that I could use a few more months of prep time. But that's not going to happen. I don't even have a list of things I WANT to buy, much less a stash of items already purchased.

The reigning champion of the Meijer LPGA Classic has given a portion of her winnings to the retailer’s hunger-relief program. So Yeon Ryu donated $100,000 of her $300,000 prize to the Simply Give program, which helps stock the shelves of Meijer food pantry partners across the Midwest.

We've all had one Thanksgiving dinner where we're cooking for our family, but then realize we forgot something vital to our dish. Larry from Meijer stopped by to remind people of the most common items people forget to shop for, so you won't forget to put them on your shopping list.

Lets face it. Sometimes cooks and Thanksgiving hosts need a break. And if that’s you, here's a Thanksgiving hack to bypass all or part of cooking a holiday meal. Order Thanksgiving to go. Many area grocery stores will do the cooking for you, an option that's becoming increasingly popular. Meijer expect sales of pre-made dinners to increase 15% this holiday season.

During the holidays, everyone is going to be hunkering down with family and friends for hours and hours. Activities include eating big meals, exchanging gifts and trying to avoid politics as a discussion topic. But for some of us, we'll be playing board games. Candice from Meijer stopped by the show with a bunch of board games to say which games are hot, and why games have gotten so popular.

If you have a sweet tooth but are trying to eat healthy and avoid extra calories, you may be overlooking the appeal of a warm, flavorful dessert based on your favorite baked fruit.

Imagine the cinnamon pie-like tang of a perfectly baked McIntosh apple, the creamy goodness of naturally caramelized banana slices or the comfort-food pleasure of sweet, vanilla-roasted peaches.

Meijer has donated funds to a nonprofit that's helping with relief efforts after Hurricane Michael. Walker-based Meijer said last week it donated $25,000 to Team Rubicon to help support victims in the Florida panhandle in the wake of Hurricane Michael.

Hunker down. Burrow in. Get as comfortable as the season allows. Practice your hygge and as winter approaches, layer up with soft clothing and collect items for the home that seductively whisper: sit, rest and stay…

Hunker down. Burrow in. Get as comfortable as the season allows. Practice your hygge and as winter approaches, layer up with soft clothing and collect items for the home that seductively whisper: sit, rest and stay…

Michigan's grocery store, Meijer, participated in a milk challenge on Monday created to give families healthy choices when it comes to beverages. Meijer, Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley, Greater Lansing Food Bank, and the Ingham County Health Department took part the challenge by donating 100 gallons of milk and $2500 to the food bank. A check was presented Monday morning at the East Lansing Meijer store. Then the milk was delivered to the Greater Lansing Food Bank shortly after.

Halloween shopping with Meijer. Andrew Marshall shares candy, costume and decor ideas.

Three professional cake decorators from Meijer bakeries across the country are competing in the annual Meijer cake decorating competition. From realistic succulents to colorful Halloween displays, these cakes are almost too good to eat!

Halloween is about a week away, and that means many people are hitting the stores for spooky products and sugary treats to celebrate. Whether it's costumes, candy, or decor, Meijer is the place that has it all so families can spend more time having scary fun instead of running all over town shopping. Meijer stopped by the Morning Mix to show just a handful of items they have available at the store for the spooky holiday.

(BPT) - As we approach cold and flu season, most of us will be doing everything we can to avoid coming down with those common and often completely miserable illnesses. Each year 5 to 20 percent of all U.S. residents will contract the flu, with the average American muddling through two to four colds annually, according to WebMD. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to get sick this season. Among other daily habits, the foods you choose can strengthen your immune system against illness and also reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do succumb.

Writing about the grocery business gives me a different look at supermarket shopping. I recognize companies we have reported on as I push my cart through the grocery aisles, spotting new private brand products to cover and others we have written about.

On Sunday, St. Mark's Episcopal Church fed their first group of people at their weekly breakfast cafe. It may have started as a small outreach program in 2006, but soon grew into a community wide effort as more than 200 people rely on it every Sunday.

Meijer Inc. has received a top score of 100 percent on the Disability Equality Index (DEI) and received, for the first time, recognition as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion – an honor bestowed only on companies that earn a top score. Meijer was among 126 companies to receive awards at the Disability:IN Annual Conference, held this past August in Las Vegas. "On behalf of all Meijer team members, we are absolutely thrilled to not only achieve a top score on the DEI, but to be named as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion – a monumental achievement for our organization,” said Michael Rotelle, SVP of human resources at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer. “I am very proud of the progress Meijer team members have made over the years to create more inclusivity and opportunities for team members with disabilities. We are humbled to be among so many fine companies that share our devotion to inclusion."

Meijer bridges the gap between denim and the ever-formal business suit with a new line for the updated professional. Not a single woman wakes up and thinks: "I want to look confused today." So why are they heading into work sporting this exact style? It's high time this grey area in women's workwear was sorted out—and Meijer's new line, Ophelia Roe, has some fashionable answers.

Friday is all about tailgating prep and ideas, thanks to our friends at Meijer. Chef Chad definitely scored a touchdown with the FOX 17 crew's taste-buds when he walked us through the simple process of making ribs and his very own Apple Cheesecake Dip.

Building on its online grocery service, Meijer has begun home delivery of beer and wine to customers in Ohio. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter chain said its assortment of craft beer and wine is now available from 40 Ohio stores through the Meijer Home Delivery service, which uses Shipt for order fulfillment and delivery.

Meijer is adding alcohol to its delivery service. Starting today, Ohio shoppers can have beer and wine, along with 70,000 grocery and daily items delivered from local Meijer stores through Shipt.

No matter how good or bad your team is doing this football season, you can still look great cheering them on thanks to all of the trendsetting styles found at your local Meijer stores. The only fumble you might have along the way is becoming the envy of your friends who didn't choose the awesome Meijer sports fashions. Meijer really is one stop shopping for your tailgate needs. So far this season they've shown off all of their game day grilling essentials, tailgating games the whole family can play and didn't disappoint when their models showed off the hottest college gear. Plus, each Meijer close to some of the smaller universities, will sell their gear as well.

Meijer will be offering free junior deer hunting licenses at all Michigan stores from Sept. 14-15. The Walker-based retailer says the deal is valid for a single junior deer hunting license, which carries a $20 value, or a mentored youth hunting license. Children must be accompanied by an adult to get the license, which can be accessed at the sporting goods desk or by contacting customer service.

A new school year means the return to routine – and the challenge that goes along with that. Parents report that one task that tends to get long in the tooth quickly is keeping up with a menu of interesting school lunch ideas. Hectic schedules and daily chaos seem to zap creativity, leaving many to default to the same tired apple slices and celery sticks day after day.

Shoppers streamed into Meijer's Bridge Street Market Wednesday morning, marking the grand opening of the Walker-based retailer's new, small-format neighborhood grocery store on Grand Rapids' West Side. Inside, they found many of the staples that line the grocery-aisle shelves at Meijer's popular supercenters - milk, eggs, bread, cereal fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat and deli products.

Wednesday marked the grand opening for the Bridge Street Market on Grand Rapids’ west side. The Meijer store, located at 613 Bridge Street NW, is a new kind of store for Meijer and for the area near downtown Grand Rapids, serving a different clientele and a different purpose.

With an average store size of around 200,000 square feet, Meijer has made its name in retail by thinking big. But in order to keep growing, it’s going to try shrinking down — way down. Today marks the opening of the first Bridge Street Market, Meijer’s 37,000-square-foot grocery store located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, mere miles from the company’s headquarters. The store features a variety of fresh foods, a bakery, full-service meat and seafood counters, a coffee shop and 2,000 grocery items ranging from Meijer store brands to locally sourced options.

Jessie Sullivan, Jack Sullivan and Jay Hanson make their own pixie sticks while attending the Meijer welcome back to school event, Meijer Mania, on Friday. Other activities included a planking challenge, photo booth, cookie challenge, raffle and more. At right, Northern Michigan University sophomore Devin Steinhaus, left, and junior Matt Swiec attempt to get a cookie in their mouth without using their hands during Meijer Mania. Event goers could participate in games such as these to win tickets to be entered into a raffle. (Journal photos by Trinity Carey)

Simply Give donation cards purchased at the Meijer store in Grand Haven Township will help local families. Love in Action has partnered with Meijer for the program. Customers can purchase $10 donation cards that will be converted into Meijer food gift cards given to a local food pantry. Simply Give cards purchased between now and Sept. 15 will benefit Love in Action food pantries.

Meijer was the first to bring home delivery to Michigan, now it's available at Meijer super centers in six states, offering 11 million households the flexibility to shop anytime, anywhere. The shopping experience is all about convenience, having a personalized shopper hand-select and deliver the order within a few hours.

Samaritan House has partnered with Meijer in order to provide hunger relief to families who depend on its food pantry donation program, Simply Give. "Samaritan House relies on the Simply Give Campaign throughout the year to stock our pantry shelves and to feed hungry families in our community," said Kathy Wojcik, executive director of Samaritan House, which is a community service organization. "We are indebted to Meijer for enabling us to pursue our mission of relieving hunger among the most vulnerable in northwestern Macomb County."

Shawn Colley from Meijer stopped by to show off some of the hottest looks for kids heading back to school.

There are a lot food options to pack in your student's lunch boxes this school year, but not all of those options are healthy or provide the fuel kids need to keep up their energy levels. Meijer is providing families with recipes that will sustain students so they can just concentrate on learning instead of a hungry stomach.

Bridge Street Market, a neighborhood grocery store on the city's Northwest Side created by Meijer, is slated to open Aug. 29, officials from the Walker-based retailer announced Monday morning. The 37,000-square-foot store, located at the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue, will boast an array of fresh and prepared foods, including fresh meat and deli products, as well as 2,000 local, artisan groceries and national brands.

Michigan-based retailer Meijer now carries its own clothing line. The company said Tuesday that it launched its own fashion brand called Ophelia Roe to “help women feel their best at work.” The clothing line includes sizes small through 3X and is available at Meijer’s 241 stores.

Meijer is stepping into the office fashion business. Walker-based Meijer said yesterday it introduced Ophelia Roe, a Meijer-exclusive, “fashion-forward” clothing line bridging the gap between casual denim and formal business-wear for women.

The idea of back to school shopping can seem overwhelming, from having to choose between different school supplies and school outfits. Fortunately, Meijer has quite a few tips and tricks to make this year’s shopping easier for you.

Meijer is coming to downtown Grand Rapids, but under a different name. The Midwest grocery store chain is expanding its reach into downtown neighborhoods with its smallest urban store in the area later this summer, The Bridge Street Market. Bridge Street Market is a new neighborhood market – not a supercenter – opening later this summer by Meijer that will focus on bringing fresh products and value to a variety of customers who live and work nearby.

The Meijer Seafood Buying Team, which travels the world seeking the freshest and most sustainably caught seafood, recently took time off from their duties to plant 760 mangrove trees during a visit to the Phetchaburi province of Thailand. The team participated in the half-day Mangrove reforestation activity in an effort to honor and give back to the local community.

As students and teachers prepare to go back to school next month, Meijer has announced a deal to give back to the teachers who give so much: a 10% discount to all teachers for school or home office purchases. Meijer announced the discount on Monday and said the 10% off deal is valid all the way through September 30. The offer is also good at all of Meijer's stores.

Ready or not, back-to-school shopping is in full swing, and Meijer is helping with savings for teachers. The superstore is giving teachers a 10 percent discount throughout the back-to-school shopping season, which ends Sept. 30.

The Manistee Meijer made a “Simply Give” donation of $4820 to Love INC of Manistee, to fill their food pantry needs. This was the spring Simply Give recipient, and another organization will be selected for the fall and holiday program.

A locally based retailer’s hunger-relief program generated over $3.5 million in giving this spring. Meijer’s spring Simply Give campaign set a record for donations for food pantries throughout the Midwest, making it the most successful Simply Give campaign since the program’s inception.

If you’re looking to save money, shopping smarter at the grocery store is a great way to start. Whether it’s picking up these best-value items at Aldi or learning how to shop at Costco without a membership (yes, it’s true!) there are a few tiny changes you can make to overhaul your budget. To be honest, I was never one for store loyalty until I realized how much I began saving at Meijer. After calculating how much I saved, I was able to treat my family to a vacation in London! While you might not pinch enough pennies to get those tickets overnight, you can save a ton with these tips.

Meijer has announced a new sustainability initiative. Walker-based Meijer plans to transition the interior lighting of all its stores to LED by 2021. The company expects the change will reduce its lighting electrical use by as much as 50 percent annually.

When Bridge Street Market opens later this summer, it will offer customers a lot of value and a lot of local products. Store manager Ken Bair shared the progress thus far with My West Michigan. One of the local products to be featured is Cultured Love. Cultured Love was founded in 2014 by Jodie and Paul Krumpe and operates in and around Grand Rapids, MI. The company that makes different flavors of sauerkraut grew out of their passion for and curiosity about the intersections between food, nutrition and well-being. Their interest in "food as medicine" expanded when several family members contracted Lyme Disease. This led Jodie to research chronic illness and the value that good food can add to a person's health. They realized there was a lack of healing foods available to them and their families and decided to create a solution.

A local Meijer proudly presented a check for nearly $60,000 after a spring campaign brought the generosity of the West Michigan community together in an effort to put food on their neighbor's tables. The Oshtemo Meijer presented Friday Groceries, a local food pantry, with a check for $59,800 after the spring Simply Give campaign. The program, which runs throughout all Midwest Meijers and works closely with customers, team members and food pantry partners, set a record after raising more than $3.5 million in donations for community food pantry partners.

The new Meijer location in Hudsonville opened its doors Thursday. The new 155,000 square-foot Meijer supercenter, located at 4075 32nd Avenue near I-196 in Hudsonville, opened at 7 a.m. Thursday. The store, which is open 24 hours a day, will provide multiple ways to shop. It will offer the new shop-and-scan technology and the home delivery service. The pharmacy will feature a drive-thru pick up and the company's free prescription program.

Meijer will open the doors to its newest supercenter, at 4075 32nd Avenue in Jamestown Township, at 7 a.m. Thursday. The 155,000-square-foot store will sell fresh produce, groceries and other merchandise, and will feature a full-service pharmacy.

There’s a new way to shop at Meijer! In addition to self-check-out and assisted lanes, there is a new, easy way to check out using Meijer Shop & Scan. Just launch the Meijer app on your phone and scan the merchandise as you go. You can track your shopping total, stay on budget, and know exactly how much you’ll be spending.

A $2,500 donation by the Des Plaines Community Foundation to the Elk Grove Township food pantry grew to $7,500 because of a double match by Meijer's grocery store. The foundation donated the money during the grocery store's "Simply Give" program in May on a day donations at its Rolling Meadows location were being double matched by Meijer.

The 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic raised $1.1 million for the retailer’s Simply Give hunger-relief program. The week-long tournament this month exceeded the organization’s goal that was set going into the event. The donations will be divided among Meijer’s 239 food pantry partners.

“Why are we going there? Are we getting poor?” I could hear the concern in my daughter’s voice after I told them we were going to Buist Community Assistance Center, our amazing local food pantry, for a tour in a few days. Just as learning practical life skills like cooking is important to their development, I knew that exposing my kids to what it feels like to hit hard times (and the joy of service through volunteering) would be a perfect way to help them grow as people on the first day of summer vacation.

Daniel Gannon says he had never had a hole-in-one before. That changed Wednesday as he made not 1 but 2 aces in the Meijer LPGA Classic Pro-Am playing with Julieta Granada. "I can not even imagine it" Gannon said. "I had a great team was really just able to get some solid contact and a little bit of luck that is what you need out here so I was speechless I didn't even know both went in and it has been a big celebration all 18."

Young golf fans got the chance of a lifetime Tuesday afternoon. The Meijer LPGA Classic Junior Clinic was held at the Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada on June 12. Kids ages 17 and under were invited to participate in the free, two-hour clinic. There were games, activities and group instruction by LPGA professionals and local golf pros.

Meijer employees are sharing a first look inside Grand Rapids’ newest grocery store. The Bridge Street Market will open on the city’s West Side later this year. Store manager Ken Bair recently gave a sneak peek of what shoppers can expect with a Facebook Live tour.

The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give officials announced Thursday that more than 40 celebrity guests will be participating in Tuesday's Celebrity Pro-Am at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. The 2018 lineup includes: Herman Moore, Dhani Jones, Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth, Heather Mitts, Joe Theismann, Pat Peake, Dean Kolstad, Dan Pohl, Sergei Samsonov, Kevin Miller, Greg Stefan, Darren Banks, Jay Adams, Darren Pang, Danton Cole, Matt Stenginga and Stacey Slobodnik. The full list of celebrities will be available online.

A week out from the Meijer LPGA Classic, crews at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont worked Thursday on getting the course ready to go. They set up stadium seating around the 17th and 18th greens. It seems they allowed the rough there to grow a bit. One of the biggest changes the players will see on the course is at the par-3 fourth. The ladies will use the back tee box behind the Rogue River, adding several yards to the hole and making it a more difficult tee shot with a wood or long iron.

All four past champions, seven of the top 10 on this season's money list and stars like Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer headline the field at next week's Meijer LPGA Classic. The tournament made 141 of the 144-player field official Thursday. There also will be three sponsor's exemptions, with two expected to be given to Michigan State golfers.

The field of 144 is set for next week's Meijer LPGA Classic to be played June 14 through 17 at Blythefield Country Club near Grand Rapids. The field will include two Michigan State players, given special exemptions. Meijer will formally announce on Friday that Sarah Burnham and Allyson Geer will play. Burnham just graduated and just captured the Connecticut Open, her first pro event, winning $4,000. Geer is still active on the MSU team and will be a junior this fall.

The final field for the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic forSimply Give continues to be one of its strongest, featuring all four past champions: 2014 Champion Mirim Lee, 2015 Champion Lexi Thompson, 2016 Champion Sei Young Kim and 2017 Champion Brooke Henderson. The complete field for the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic was announced today for the tournament, June 12-17 at Blythefield Country Club.

If you are a fan of the LPGA, you can now go a step further and make a donation to a needy family at the same time. The Meijer LPGA Classic announced on Wednesday that fans can text to donate SimplyGive - that's all one word - to 444999. The Simply Give program hopes to feed hungry families in Michigan and the Midwest.

One of the highlights of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply give is obviously the top tier golf on display, but a close second may be the incredible spread put on at the Grand Taste Food Tent. The Grand Taste Garden will feature over 50 different restaurants and breweries serving food, chef demonstrations, barbeque, and live music from local bands.

The Meijer LPGA Classic returns to Blythefield Country Club June 11-17 and Maranda is giving you the chance to win 4 tickets to the Grand Taste on Sunday, June 17.

Plainfield Township will once again play host to the annual Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. The event, in its fifth year, will feature a series of events from June 11-17 at the Blythefield Country Club, 5801 Northland Drive NE. The tournament's ultimate purpose is to engage the community, Meijer vendors and partners on multiple levels with the commitment to feed the hungry through their Simply Give program, according to Meijer officials.

You now have one more reason to do your grocery shopping at Meijer because of a program that helps local food pantries called Simply Give. The program helps raise money for local food pantries through Northwest Food Coalition, which helps 60 food pantries and meal sites. Meijer in Acme and Traverse City is hosting this program now through June 17

Thousands of Michigan children and families face homelessness, so volunteers are working hard Wednesday to feed the less fortunate. Food pantries face a perfect storm each summer when demand is high and food supply is low, but with your assistance Meijer’s “Simply Give” program can help.

Meijer Inc. will open a new store June 28 that replaces the Henry Ford Macomb Hospital campus in Warren. The Meijer at 25225 Schoenherr Road anchors a $30 million development from Southfield-based Redico LLC at the corner of East 10 Mile Road and Schoenherr. The 195,000-square-foot store cost $20 million to build and will employ 300 part- and full-time workers, Grand Rapids-based Meijer announced Wednesday.

With summer in full effect, the Meijer LPGA 5k run/walk is giving parents the perfect opportunity for some healthy summer fun for their kids. Not only will this event provide a way for kids and adults alike to get out and get active in the sunshine, but the cost also includes two daily tickets to the LPGA golf tournament, a free t-shirt, and a complimentary breakfast.

The Grand Taste Garden will make its debut this year across the fairway from the Grand Taste tent. It will feature food, outdoor games, chef demonstrations throughout the weekend and barbeque and live music from local bands Great Scott! and Blue Water Kings Band, following play on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank and Meijer are partnering this spring to provide hunger relief to local families through the Michigan-based retailer’s food pantry donation program, Simply Give. The program encourages customers to purchase $10 Simply Give donation cards, which are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to a local emergency food providers in the store’s community.

Sure, 144 of the world’s best women golfers will play at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Maybe even better, characters from SpongeBob and Paw Patrol will be there, too. The fifth-annual event returns to Blythefield Country Club this year with a new addition: the Discovery Land kid’s center. The on-course playground will be full of photo ops with Nickelodeon characters, autograph sessions with LPGA professionals, board games, yard games and other hands-on activities from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 13-17.

As the weather warms and outdoor celebrations start to take shape, Meijer has added five new, fresh, protein-based salads, including two new vegetarian salads, in all stores across its six-state footprint. Taking into account recent flavor trends, the Meijer test kitchen chefs created the protein-based salads to make summertime meal prep and entertaining a breeze.

Marquette’s Meijer opened this morning after months of preparation. The 195,000 square foot supercenter welcomed its first customers with over 300,000 items – from produce to clothes – proving that they can be more than just a retailer. For employees and patrons alike, it’s been a long time coming. “We started opening stores in the U.P., and probably the biggest question we were getting in the Sault and Escanaba was when we are coming to Marquette,” said Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes. “So we knew this was going to be a homerun when we came to the Marquette area.”

Meijer and Kimberly-Clark worked together Wednesday and Thursday at the new Meijer store in Grand Chute to build a bath tissue pyramid that set a new mark for the Guinness World Records. Check out the time-lapse video here that shows the pyramid going up.

Today's grand opening of the Marquette Meijer store was quite the draw... "Well we've been really getting and amazing response, and it started really a year and a half ago, two years ago, when we started opening stores in the U.P.? And probably the biggest question we were getting in the Soo and Escanaba was 'When are we coming to Marquette?" Rick Keyes said, president and CEO of Meijer. "And so, we knew this was going to be a homerun when we came to the Marquette area."

Back for its fifth year, the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give remains one of the premier events on the Tour. It will be held June 12-17, at Blythefield Country Club. The 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week’s festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest.

Like many food pantries, the shelves at North Kent Connect are stocked with cans and boxes of non-perishable items like green beans and pasta. But there’s also a choice selection of fresh fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini and carrots, as well as dairy products and proteins like eggs and meat. Though fresh food may be standard fare in many household kitchens, it’s not taken for granted by families who supplement their grocery shopping with monthly visits to North Kent Connect.

One of the highlights of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give is the top tier golf on display over the weekend, but a close second may be the incredible spread put on at the Grand Taste food tent. This year, more than 50 local breweries, restaurants and Meijer offerings will be serving great food at Grand Taste. The Grand Taste Garden will feature food, outdoor games, chef demonstrations throughout the weekend, barbeque, and live music from local bands.

It just got easier to purchase tickets for the fifth annual Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Tickets can be purchased at each Meijer store in Michigan for the tournament, which will be played June 12-17 at Blythefield Country Club.

Jennifer Saathoff takes her shopping seriously — at least when a new store opens. The Bradley resident was first in line for the opening of Meijer Supercenter this morning. She showed up with her fiance, Kevin Pawlowski, and his mother, Peggy, at 4:30 a.m. They brought out chairs, sitting next to a “Line starts here” sign. “I love this store. I’ve been to Meijer before,” Saathhoff said.

Almost exactly two years to the day that the Bradley Kmart closed its doors, the Meijer Supercenter, 990 N. Kinzie Ave., will open Thursday to the public. The doors are expected to be open at 7 a.m., with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m.

Customers at the Richmond Meijer can help the Community Food Pantry by purchasing $10 Meijer Simply Give donation cards between now and June 17.

The most important numbers during next month's 5th Annual Meijer LPGA Classic won't just be found on the scorecards. Meijer officials threw out a big number during Monday morning's press conference at North Kent Connect in Rockford that is one to keep an eye on, too: $1 million.That's how much they to raise $1 million for its Simply Give program, which provides food for the retailer's food pantry partners across the Midwest.

Soon enough the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give will be back on and today, 13 ON YOUR SIDE learned more about the mission of the big event. The Meijer LPGA Classic is happening from June 12 to June 17 at the Blythfield Country Club. This year's goal is to raise a million dollars for food pantries in West Michigan.

The Salvation Army is partnering with Meijer this spring for the customer-driven food pantry donation program Simply Give. “Our food pantry can see up to 60 families a day visit us for assistance,” said Lt. Jonathan Taube of The Salvation Army of Muncie. “Many of them feel an extra strain in the summer without the help of school lunch programs for their kids.”

The Meijer LPGA Classic held their annual Media Day on Monday where they announced that all four past champions, plus Michelle Wie and Lydia Ko, will be returning next month for the tournament at Blythefield Country Club. Meijer also spent the morning donating four palettes of food to North Kent Connect where those who need food can shop up to once a month.

The field continues to take shape for the 5th Annual Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club. Meijer officials hosted a media day Monday morning at North Kent Connect in Rockford, and Cathy Cooper, the tournament's executive director, released the names of five recent commits. She said stayed tuned for more announcements in the upcoming weeks.

A golfing tournament that brings the top female golfers in the world to West Michigan while helping feed those in need turns five this year. Over the past four years of the Meijer LPGA Classic, Meijer has donated more than $3.1 million to food pantries. This year, organizers hope to raise an additional $1 million. The money raised through the tournament goes to Meijer’s Simply Give program, which supports 235 pantries across the Midwest by allowing them to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and lean meats.

If you or your kids are looking for a full or maybe part time summer job, Meijer is hosting a 3-day hiring fair that kicks off today. It runs Monday through Wednesday at the Pinnacle Center on Highland Drive in Hudsonville. Meijer says it’s looking to hire nearly 200 new employees for the new store which opens this summer.

For the 7th straight year, HOTEL INC is a recipient of some of the goods collected during this weekend's Realtors' Association Hope for Homeless. And through their association with Meijer, they can double the number of people they feed. And this year, children from 58 area schools will also be receiving food from this weekend's camp-out.

Officials from Meijer, Northern Michigan University and local municipalities gathered at Meijer in Marquette Township Friday when Meijer donated two semi-trucks and trailers to Northern Michigan University’s Commercial Driver’s License Truck Driving Program, which will begin this summer. “As part of the community, we enjoy giving back … We delivered two full semis, tractors and trailers to Northern Michigan University’s CDL program so they can begin to train students on truck driving,”John Spaulding, store director at Marquette Meijer said.

A new program at Northern Michigan University is getting some much needed help from a new organization in Marquette. Meijer donated two reconditioned semi trucks Friday to NMU’s new CDL Truck Driving Program. The trucks were given new tires and designs. The partnership between Meijer and the City of Marquette has been ongoing for a while.

Runners interested in competing in the June 16 Run #Forehunger Meijer LPGA Classic 5k Run & Walk presented by Kellogg's can now sign up. Register by clicking here. The race, which is sponsored by Gazelle Sports, will be held at Rockford High School beginning at 8 a.m. The participation fee for adults 18-and-up is $25 per person, and $15 for youths 17-and-under.

Healthy lifestyles start when kids are young. And running is fun for them too! This year, the Meijer 5K Run and Walk features a one mile kids fun run. You can run and walk as families and friends or as a corporate experience. It’s a great way to be healthy and join the exciting things happening at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give.

Food for thought – if reading a book helped others in your community, would you do it? A group of third graders did. Whether it was reading in their hot tub, or to their pets, these students are feeding their minds while feeding those in need. More than 50 students from Twin Lake Elementary read on their own time for 31 days straight, all to raise money for charity. It's an example of little kids proving, they too can do big things.

If you haven't heard, now you will; Meijer has a new app that might change the way you shop. We told you about Meijer's new scan and shop app yesterday. It's supposed to make shopping easier, but, does it really save time? 13 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Sarah Sell decided to put this app to the test at the Meijer on Alpine Avenue, where Customer Experience Director Stephanie Brackenridge could provide some assistance.

Meijer plans to launch a self-scanning mobile application in Chicago-area stores by the end of the summer, a move likely to be followed by some larger retailers in the near future. The Shop & Scan service allows shoppers to scan products as they shop with a Meijer app downloaded on their phones and bag the groceries on the go. To check out, shoppers hold their phones up to a self-checkout register, then walk out the door.

Meijer's self-check out option is about to get faster. The Midwest retailer has unveiled a streamlined shopping checkout program, called "Shop & Scan" that lets customers scan barcodes and bag their groceries as they shop. "Shop & Scan will make the Meijer experience dramatically faster and more convenient for our customers," said Terry Ledbetter, the retailer's chief information officer in a statement. "This technology joins our curbside pickup and home delivery programs to provide yet another option for Meijer customers to personalize their shopping experience."