Difference Between a Super Target & a Greatland Target

Chances are, you’re familiar with Target stores. As of January 2018, the discount retailer has 1,834 stores in almost every state, and offers everything from household basics to stylish clothing and home furnishings. In fact, according to Target’s corporate headquarters, more than 96 percent of people in America recognized the chain’s ubiquitous red bullseye logo. What many people may not recognize, however, is the difference between the different types of Target stores

The first Target opened in Roseville, Minn. in 1962. The store primarily offered household basics and some limited food items. As the chain grew, customer demand led to the development of Target Greatland stores; the first Greatland location opened in 1990. Identifiable by the word “Greatland” in green script next to the red Target sign, the Greatland stores were 50 percent larger than a regular Target store. Target Greatland locations offered wider aisles, more and faster check out lanes, a wider selection of merchandise and a more services. The Greatland stores added an expanded prepared-food section and introduced pharmacy and photo services.

The first Super Target store opened in Omaha, Nebraska in 1995. Approximately the same size as the Greatland stores, Super Target marked the first time that Target offered fresh food, including produce, deli items and meat. At the same time, the Super Target stores offered the items and one-stop shopping experience that the Greatland stores introduced. In addition, Super Target stores added banks, expanded restaurant options, photo studios and in some stores, health clinics. At a Super Target store, customers can do their weekly grocery shopping, buy new curtains for the bedroom, pick up their prescriptions and develop their photos in one stop.

To meet the increasing demand for convenience and to streamline operations, Target has converted most of the Greatland stores into Super Target stores, and new stores going forward will be either Super Target or standard store locations. Most Target stores have pharmacies and photo processing services, and include the Food Avenue restaurant that offers fast food and snack items – including the popcorn that entices guests when they walk in to the store. According to data compiled in September 2017, there are 239 Super Target locations, which offer in-store bakeries in addition to meat, produce and a deli. The Super Target stores also offer a wider selection of brands than the standard Target stores.

In an effort to increase sales and satisfy customer demand, some of the 1,500 Target locations that are not Super Target stores are also expanding their fresh food offerings. More than 100 Target locations have expanded food sections offering non-perishable foods, as well as a larger refrigerated section with some fresh produce and meat, dairy and frozen items. However, due to space restrictions, the vast majority of Target locations will not convert into Super Target stores.