IBM Point-of-Sale and Self-Checkout Featured in New Food Lion Store Concept

Food Lions new Bloom pilot stores, which feature a new store concept, format and brand name, will offer advanced IBM point-of-sale systems and IBM Self Checkout systems to help provide the simple, uncomplicated new shopping experience designed for the new stores. Food Lion LLC has announced plans to open five pilot stores to test the new store concept. The new stores scheduled to open by the end of 2004 in the Charlotte, N.C., area, will be named, "Bloom, A Food Lion Market." Bloom stores are being designed to serve customers by providing a simple, uncomplicated and hassle-free shopping experience. The first Bloom store opened May 26 in Charlotte. Bloom will be a new brand under the Food Lion LLC banner. Food Lion operates more than 1,200 stores in 11 states. The new stores will feature IBM 4694 POS systems, which are among the most reliable and popular POS systems being used by retailers around the world. IBM Self Checkout systems will give Bloom customers the choice and convenience of self-checkout to speed the checkout process and enhance customer satisfaction. Bloom brings a new approach to store design, layout and merchandising. Bloom also will test some of the proven leading-edge technologies in the retail industry, with an objective of enhancing the shopping experience and helping customers find products, get information and check out with greater ease.