What does Target’s new head of food say about the company’s future?

Minneapolis-based Target Corp. reported strong holiday sales, along with key executive changes, including naming a new president of food and beverage.

Stephanie Lundquist, a 20-year veteran of Target, was named to the role after serving as the company’s chief human resources officer since 2016.

Lundquist was featured in Target’s blog, “A Bullseye View,” to talk about her Minnesota farm upbringing, and the overhauls the company is undertaking in stores.

When asked what her plans are for food and beverage at Target, Lundquist wrote:

I’d start by saying that we’ve made incredible progress, and our most recent results validate that. But, with this strong foundation in place, we know we can always do more, which is one of the reasons I love being a part of this team.

In terms of what to expect, there are some things we’ll focus on that our guests won’t see, but that will make their experience even better. We plan on enhancing how we operate this area of the business by bringing key players from across the organization together to form one new team, while staying closely connected to the functions and capabilities we’ve built at Target to deliver a great shopping experience.

We have incredible expertise supporting this area of the business, and I’m excited to propel that forward. This includes everything from thinking about how we leverage our range of fulfillment options to new brand development. But the primary filter will always be our guest and how we can make Target an even more joyful experience for them, whether they simply need a snack to get through the afternoon or are stocking up on staples for the week ahead.

Target’s November/December sales period showed a 5.7% increase in same-store sales, compared to last year’s 3.4 percent, the company said in a news release. The company attributed the sales growth to traffic, with a small increase in average basket size, and said it is on track to have the strongest full-year comparable sales since 2005.

Along with Lundquist’s appointment, Target announced the following executive changes:

• Chief Financial Officer Cathy Smith plans to retire, and move to an advisory role until May 2020;
• Melissa Kremer, Senior Vice President of Human Resources succeeds Lundquist as Chief HR Officer;
• Katie Boylan, Senior Vice President of Communications is the company’s new Chief Communications Officer;
• Mike McNamara, Chief Information Officer now leads the company’s Enterprise Data Analytics and Business Intelligence team;
• Rick Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer is the company’s new Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, leading the company’s digital team.