3 Questions with Stephanie Lundquist: Target’s New President of Food and Beverage

January 10, 2019

Food-it's an important part of our assortment because it plays a big role in our guests' lives. Like other key merchandise categories across Target, we want our approach to food-from selection to presentation to service-to bring joy and inspiration to our guests' everyday experiences. On her first day in a new role for the company, we caught up with Stephanie Lundquist, who will be leading all merchandising and operations for Food and Beverage at Target.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in Minnesota and grew up on a family farm. So stepping into this new role at Target is a bit like coming home for me, given the focus on food. From an early age, the role food plays-in bringing people together and creating a sense of community-has been a part of my life. I also know that food can be a source of stress for many of our guests. Who doesn't wonder, 'What am I going to do about dinner?' at least a few times each week? What's exciting is the role Target can play in answering that question for our guests, making their lives a little easier and less stressful, by offering the right assortment and the right solutions they need.

Professionally, my entire career has been in retail, mostly with Target. I feel fortunate to have had a variety of diverse experiences over 20 years, from managing stores early on to most recently serving as Chief Human Resources Officer for our 350,000 team members globally. My passion for this brand, our team and our guests runs very deep.

What are your plans for Food and Beverage at Target?
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.

Last but not least, what's in your cart when shopping Food and Beverage at Target? Any guilty pleasures?
It's tough to pick a favorite! When I stop by my local Target, you'll find me shopping up and down each of the aisles in our Food and Beverage department. A selection of snacks and Archer Farms Butter Toffee coffee are always in my cart-I'm constantly amazed by the incredible flavors our team comes up with, and this coffee is something I look forward to each morning. I'll also pick up a bottle of wine or two on my way out. It's been really fun to see this area of our business experience so much growth, and our team at Target does a great job of bringing in new brands and interesting varietals that my husband and I enjoy trying.

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