As one of the largest supercenter chains in the Midwest, Meijer is a go-to shopping destination for everything from groceries to electronics to home goods. But have you ever gone to Meijer only to find that the specific item you needed was out of stock? To help you plan your shopping trips for maximum success, we‘ve put together the ultimate guide to Meijer‘s restocking schedule.
When Does Meijer Typically Restock Its Stores?
According to Meijer employees and expert analysts, most Meijer stores receive shipments and restock items every day of the week, usually overnight. The busiest stocking times are late at night between 10pm-12am after stores close and early morning between 12am-6am before stores open.
"Shoppers have the best odds of finding fully stocked shelves by coming in the morning, soon after the store opens," said Darren Bonkowski, a grocery industry consultant who has studied Meijer and other major retail chains. "That‘s when the overnight restocking is complete but items haven‘t been heavily picked over by customers yet."
However, different departments and products categories have somewhat different restocking schedules and frequencies:
Groceries and Household Essentials
As supercenter store, groceries make up a huge portion of Meijer‘s business. Most stores restock all grocery aisles daily. Fast-selling core items like produce, dairy, eggs, bread, toilet paper, etc. may even be restocked multiple times per day as needed to keep up with demand. Grocery employees work around the clock to restock shelves and displays.
Electronics, Office Supplies, Entertainment
Electronics and entertainment items like computers, TVs, gaming systems, movies and music are usually restocked 2-3 times per week rather than daily. Stores typically get shipments of these goods early in the week. Hot new releases (hit video games, new phone models, etc.) may restock weekly or sell out quickly.
Clothing, Shoes and Accessories
Clothing inventory turns over frequently as seasons and trends change. Most clothing departments restock 2-3 times per week with new shipments, usually hitting the sales floor by late morning or early afternoon. Clearance racks may only restock weekly as items are moved from the regular displays.
Home Goods and Furniture
Meijer‘s home department restocks larger furniture pieces 1-2 times per week. Smaller home decor and kitchen items are typically restocked every few days and moved to the sales floor in late morning or early afternoon after the overnight grocery rush. Seasonal home items restock more frequently during holidays.
Outdoor, Sporting Goods and Auto
Inventory for outdoor living, sports equipment, and automotive supplies is heaviest in spring and summer. During peak seasons, most of these departments restock weekly to keep up with demand for grilling equipment, patio furniture, gardening, camping gear, etc. In the off-season, restocking slows to every 2-3 weeks.
How Meijer‘s Restocking Compares to Other Major Retailers
Meijer‘s daily restocking schedule for groceries is on par with or slightly more frequent than competitors like Walmart, Target, Kroger and Publix. Where Meijer really shines is consistently having the widest selection of brands and specialty items in stock.
"We‘ve found that Meijer stores, on average, carry 15-20% more SKUs than comparably-sized supercenters like Walmart," Bonkowski said. "So even if a particular brand or flavor sells out one day, odds are Meijer will still have other varieties available in the category until the next restock."
For non-grocery categories, Meijer‘s 2-3 restocking per week is fairly standard for big box stores. Retailers optimize how frequently they restock different departments to balance consumer demand with the time, labor and space required to move inventory.
Expert Tips for Meijer Shoppers
Want to get the most out of every Meijer run? Keep these expert tips in mind:
- Shop early in the morning for the freshest possible produce, meats, baked goods and dairy. Overnight stockers place the newest items behind older ones on shelves, so you‘ll find the latest expiration dates in the back.
- Don‘t be shy about asking employees if they have a product in the stockroom, especially if you need a large quantity for an event or recipe. They‘re often happy to bring out extra inventory that hasn‘t hit shelves yet.
- Look for "Manager‘s Special" tags, especially in grocery departments and seasonal displays. These indicate items the store is trying to sell quickly, either because they‘re close to expiration or it‘s the end of a promotional period. You can score great deals if your timing is right!
- If you need a high-demand item, check the Meijer website or app to view store inventory before heading out. Employees keep these systems updated in real-time, so you can see exactly how many units are on-hand.
- Sign up for a mPerks account to get personalized coupons and sale alerts. Meijer‘s loyalty program also sometimes includes early access to limited-stock items for members.
Behind the Scenes: How Meijer Keeps Shelves Stocked
Have you ever wondered how Meijer manages to keep its massive 200,000 square foot supercenters stocked around the clock? It‘s a complex dance of logistics, automation and good old-fashioned teamwork!
Meijer‘s inventory management starts at the company‘s central distribution centers. Stores electronically monitor stock levels in real-time and place replenishment orders multiple times per day. High-tech warehouses then pick, pack and ship pallets of goods to each store based on its sell-through rate, sales forecast and promotional schedule.
"Meijer was an early pioneer in adapting just-in-time logistics for supercenter retail," said Bonkowski. "They have one of the most advanced supply chain operations in the business."
When shipments arrive at the store, night shift stockers work in teams to quickly break down pallets, move goods to the appropriate departments and place items on shelves. Increasingly, robotics automation assists with truck unloading and transporting in the backrooms. Inventory management software plans out stockers‘ tasks for maximum efficiency.
Meijer‘s own private label products are key to its successful in-stock strategy. Over 10,000 items stores carry are Meijer-branded, produced exclusively for the retailer. This gives Meijer more flexibility to ramp up production on high-demand basics versus relying on brand name manufacturers‘ supply.
"Meijer‘s ongoing investments in technology, infrastructure and team training have enabled it to fine-tune restocking into both a science and an art form," Bonkowski added. "Its stores are well-positioned to maintain industry-leading in-stock rates even as shopper preferences evolve."
The Future of Restocking at Meijer
What‘s next for Meijer as it aims to optimize inventory management for the future? The retailer has several initiatives underway:
Micro-fulfillment centers – Meijer is testing compact, automated warehouses inside or adjacent to stores that use robotics to pick and pack online grocery orders. This frees up employees to focus on restocking shelves and serving in-store shoppers.
AI-powered forecasting – New artificial intelligence tools analyze sales data, weather patterns, local events and more to predict demand for individual products up to 12 weeks in advance. More accurate forecasting means Meijer can restock stores proactively and reduce sold-out situations.
Dynamic shelf tags – Electronic displays are replacing traditional paper price tags in some departments. These digital tags can update prices in real-time and flash to alert employees when an item is running low or out of stock.
Scan-based trading – Meijer is expanding scan-based trading partnerships with suppliers, where the retailer doesn‘t take ownership of inventory until it scans at the register. This model incentivizes vendors to keep products in-stock and reduces financial risk for Meijer.
Continual advancements like these, combined with Meijer‘s 85+ years of retail expertise, lead industry insiders to anticipate the supercenter chain will maintain a dominant position in the Midwest market. Next time you shop your local Meijer, take a moment to appreciate all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into those well-stocked shelves!
We hope this guide has given you a clearer picture of when Meijer restocks and how to time your shopping trips for the best selection. Remember, you can always use Meijer‘s website and app to check real-time inventory at your local store before heading out. Here‘s to a sucessful Meijer run!
