Forney, Texas – It's not just Forney residents waiting eagerly for the new 123,000 square foot Kroger Martketplace to open in late January of 2014. According to Forney Kroger Marketplace Store Manager John Pierce, Kroger expects to draw customers from all over the county and surrounding cities.
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The Forney Kroger Marketplace has an opening date set for Friday, January 24, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. and the fueling station is expected to open next week with unattended fueling – credit card and debit transactions only. Opening ceremonies will include a ribbon cutting with Forney Mayor Darren Rozell at a time still to be determined.
The Forney Kroger Marketplace will be led by 41-year Kroger veteran John Pierce who was previously the store manager for Rockwall's Signature Kroger store. 30 of Pierce's 41 years with Kroger have been as a store manager.
InForney.com's Mathew Richards spoke exclusively with Pierce and Kroger's Director of Consumer Affairs and Media Relations Gary Huddleston as they toured the new Forney Kroger Marketplace. Although the Marketplace concept has been developed by Kroger nationally for four years, Huddleston says the Forney location will only be the 10th Marketplace opened in the southwest region.
Huddleston made reference to the new technology Kroger has at its disposal more than once during the tour. According to Huddleston, technology is being used to speed every aspect of the customer's time in the store from wait times in line to product fulfillment at the shelves in Forney from their Keller, Texas, distribution center. “[The technology] provides the ultimate accountability,” says Pierce. “My managers can check lead times in the checkout lines from the previous hour.”
Immediately as you enter Kroger, you are greeted with a massive foyer that sets the tone and prepares you for a truly enormous store. Customers are then greeted in traditional Kroger fashion by passing the floral section, which Huddleston says, “Kroger is the worlds largest florist based on volume.”
In total, the Forney Kroger Marketplace will have three customer entrances including two main entrances and a separate entrance at the in-store Starbucks. The Starbucks entrance will also feature an outside patio with seating and dining area. The Starbucks will be manned by Kroger employees, according to Huddleston.
The produce section will feature nearly 600 types of produce including approximately 100 organic produce items. There is a full-service sushi kiosk/bar with a full-time sushi chef. A grilling section for sampling different meats is accompanied by a cheese island with over 100 different international cheeses.
In the meat department, there is cut-to-order butcher-cut meats, an open-air seafood counter, lamb, veal, and exclusive-to-Kroger Nolan Ryan Beef. The Kroger Marketplace will have a full-service bakery for fresh baked goods, donuts, custom cakes and cupcakes, and will also feature gluten-free products.
A portion of the food service area will feature a “Natures Market” area which Huddleston says is more like “a store within a store” for organic foods and gluten-free products.
The walls are painted in earth-tone colors which add depth and a sleek modern contemporary feeling to the store. You'll also find noticeably larger aisles. “We want to make it comfortable for the customers while they're here,” says Huddleston.
Moving into the home goods section of the store you will see a pet section, household goods including high-end kitchen appliances, beauty and cosmetic products, and fashion essentials including sportswear, shoes, and upscale fashion clothing.
The pharmacy will feature a double drive thru window and a patient counseling area. Huddleston said new technology implemented in the pharmacy will “dramatically improve wait times” and allow prescriptions to be filled within 10-15 minutes from the time the prescription is entered.
Near the front of the store is a Kroger-owned Fred Meyer Jewelers store. “You can find carats in Fred Meyer's and carrots in produce,” joked Huddleston. There is also a baby and infant section with baby food, diapers, apparel, cribs, car seats, and safety gates.
A wine bottle chandelier hangs over the beer and wine section which will feature nearly 500 different varieties of wine and a “great variety” of the recently popular craft beers, according to Huddletson.
Kroger's economic impact in Forney is estimated at $21 million for the Kroger Marketplace store and fueling station. An additional $4.6 million investment was made in road improvements, drainage, and utilities.
The Kroger Marketplace is Phase I of an overall two-phase development at the site named the Forney Marketplace. The Forney Marketplace will have approximately 200,000 square feet in leasable property once Phase II is complete. Phase II will feature two junior anchor locations, seven smaller retail locations, two restaurant locations, and four fast food locations, according to a Retail Connection site map.
Kroger also expects to hire approximately 300 full-time and part-time employees from the area. Kroger will be holding four more hiring events in Forney at First United Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on December 20th and 21st and January 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th. First United Methodist Church is located at 414 West Broad Street, Forney, Texas 75126.
The Forney Kroger Marketplace will be led by 41-year Kroger veteran John Pierce who was previously the store manager for Rockwall's Signature Kroger store. 30 of Pierce's 41 years with Kroger have been as a store manager.
InForney.com's Mathew Richards spoke exclusively with Pierce and Kroger's Director of Consumer Affairs and Media Relations Gary Huddleston as they toured the new Forney Kroger Marketplace. Although the Marketplace concept has been developed by Kroger nationally for four years, Huddleston says the Forney location will only be the 10th Marketplace opened in the southwest region.
Huddleston made reference to the new technology Kroger has at its disposal more than once during the tour. According to Huddleston, technology is being used to speed every aspect of the customer's time in the store from wait times in line to product fulfillment at the shelves in Forney from their Keller, Texas, distribution center. “[The technology] provides the ultimate accountability,” says Pierce. “My managers can check lead times in the checkout lines from the previous hour.”
Immediately as you enter Kroger, you are greeted with a massive foyer that sets the tone and prepares you for a truly enormous store. Customers are then greeted in traditional Kroger fashion by passing the floral section, which Huddleston says, “Kroger is the worlds largest florist based on volume.”
In total, the Forney Kroger Marketplace will have three customer entrances including two main entrances and a separate entrance at the in-store Starbucks. The Starbucks entrance will also feature an outside patio with seating and dining area. The Starbucks will be manned by Kroger employees, according to Huddleston.
The produce section will feature nearly 600 types of produce including approximately 100 organic produce items. There is a full-service sushi kiosk/bar with a full-time sushi chef. A grilling section for sampling different meats is accompanied by a cheese island with over 100 different international cheeses.
In the meat department, there is cut-to-order butcher-cut meats, an open-air seafood counter, lamb, veal, and exclusive-to-Kroger Nolan Ryan Beef. The Kroger Marketplace will have a full-service bakery for fresh baked goods, donuts, custom cakes and cupcakes, and will also feature gluten-free products.
A portion of the food service area will feature a “Natures Market” area which Huddleston says is more like “a store within a store” for organic foods and gluten-free products.
The walls are painted in earth-tone colors which add depth and a sleek modern contemporary feeling to the store. You'll also find noticeably larger aisles. “We want to make it comfortable for the customers while they're here,” says Huddleston.
Moving into the home goods section of the store you will see a pet section, household goods including high-end kitchen appliances, beauty and cosmetic products, and fashion essentials including sportswear, shoes, and upscale fashion clothing.
The pharmacy will feature a double drive thru window and a patient counseling area. Huddleston said new technology implemented in the pharmacy will “dramatically improve wait times” and allow prescriptions to be filled within 10-15 minutes from the time the prescription is entered.
Near the front of the store is a Kroger-owned Fred Meyer Jewelers store. “You can find carats in Fred Meyer's and carrots in produce,” joked Huddleston. There is also a baby and infant section with baby food, diapers, apparel, cribs, car seats, and safety gates.
A wine bottle chandelier hangs over the beer and wine section which will feature nearly 500 different varieties of wine and a “great variety” of the recently popular craft beers, according to Huddletson.
Kroger's economic impact in Forney is estimated at $21 million for the Kroger Marketplace store and fueling station. An additional $4.6 million investment was made in road improvements, drainage, and utilities.
The Kroger Marketplace is Phase I of an overall two-phase development at the site named the Forney Marketplace. The Forney Marketplace will have approximately 200,000 square feet in leasable property once Phase II is complete. Phase II will feature two junior anchor locations, seven smaller retail locations, two restaurant locations, and four fast food locations, according to a Retail Connection site map.
Kroger also expects to hire approximately 300 full-time and part-time employees from the area. Kroger will be holding four more hiring events in Forney at First United Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on December 20th and 21st and January 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th. First United Methodist Church is located at 414 West Broad Street, Forney, Texas 75126.