MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Former Safeway Group Vice President Anne Dament has joined the Target team as the Senior Vice President of Merchandising to help vamp up the company’s grocery category.

Dament, who worked most recently as a Vice President for Petsmart, served as Safeway as Group Vice President, Perishable Strategy, for almost ten years, overlapping with current Target CEO Brian Cornell during his time as Chief Marketing Officer for the grocery retailer. She has also served as a former buyer for SUPERVALU.

Dament’s role to improve and expand Target’s grocery sector begins April 20, according to the Wall Street Journal, expanding private-label products, adding more organic and gluten-free options, and emphasizing categories geared more towards millennial consumers.

As we have previously reported, the new Target CEO plans to make the fresh foods area of the company, which currently only garners about a fifth of its annual $73 billion in sales, a stronger branch. Cornell announced that the company tapped Dament, who brings with her a total of nearly 20 years in grocery and consumer packaged foods experience, to help do just that, according to a press release.

“Our guests tell us they expect Target to inspire them with differentiated food offerings like we do in other areas,” Cornell said, according to the press release. “We have an opportunity to make food more reflective of our brand, elevate the shopping experience, and make Target a food destination for our guests.”

Dament commented, “Joining the team at Target gives me an opportunity to bring my professional experience and love of food to the organization as their transformation is just getting underway. I’m excited to return home to Minnesota and work alongside great leaders for such an iconic brand.”

Target’s overall facelift of its grocery department is reportedly expected to take place over the next 12 to 18 months.

Target