Meijer moves weekly promotions to Wednesdays, aligning with Midwest competitors
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has shifted the start of its weekly sales promotions from Sundays to Wednesdays, aligning its schedule with several major grocery competitors in the Midwest.
The new weekly cycle will now run from Wednesday through the following Tuesday, replacing the long-standing Sunday-to-Saturday format that the retailer had used for decades, according to the Detroit Free Press.
“This change allows our team members to focus more on customer service during our busiest weekend days, and to manage ad-related tasks during the week when stores are less busy,” a Meijer spokesperson told the newspaper.
Following industry patterns
Kroger and Aldi — both major rivals in Metro Detroit — also launch their weekly promotions on Wednesdays. Family Fare, owned by SpartanNash, follows the same schedule, while Giant Eagle in Ohio begins on Thursdays. Busch’s Fresh Food Market, with 16 locations in Southeastern Michigan, operates on a biweekly cycle starting every other Monday, the Free Press reported.
Decline of printed flyers
The shift comes as retailers nationwide move away from mailed circulars, opting instead for in-store pickup or digital-only flyers. Kroger last year stopped distributing weekly ads via newspapers across its banners, citing declining circulation, though printed versions remain available in stores.
Other national chains — including Target, Walgreens, and CVS — have also eliminated mailed flyers. Giant Eagle briefly ended its printed circular in Pittsburgh before reinstating it a month later, after previously discontinuing the practice in Cleveland and Central Ohio.
Digital deals on the rise
Weekly sales flyers have long been a staple of grocery marketing, but retailers are increasingly focusing on digital promotions through their websites and mobile apps. Similarly, paper coupons are being phased out in favor of digital versions.
In fact, marketers distributed about 50 billion paper coupons in 2023, down sharply from 330 billion in 2020, according to marketing and printing services company RRD.
