Target Testing Healthier Cafe Concepts — No Hot Dogs Or Nachos In Sight

(Mike Mozart)

Sometimes you just can’t get through your shopping trip at Target without a little snack, say, a hot dog from the store’s cafe. You might have to settle for something a little different next time hunger strikes while you’re roaming the aisles, as Target announced it’s testing a new – healthier – cafe concept.

USA Today reports that 14 Target stores will serve as the testing grounds for a new cafe concept that ditches hot dogs and cheese-drenched nachos in favor of pressed juices, green salads and “artisan” pizza.

The new concept, which will begin being tested in October, comes in several food categories.

One cafe concept – called Freshii – will be available in nine stores, offering customers salads and pressed juices, while three other stores will open Pizza Hut restaurants featuring a limited menu of “artisan” pies, like margarita and barbecue chicken.

Two stores in Minneapolis will host outposts of local Italian restaurant D’Amico & Sons.

Of Target’s 1,800 stores, nearly 1,700 currently have some sort of cafe offering guests popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, and Icees. Tina Tyler, Target’s chief stores officer, says those cafes attract nearly 40% of shoppers.

The experiment with the new cafe concepts came about after hearing customers were looking for more high-quality food and a fast-casual atmosphere, USA Today reports.

“We think this takes us a giant step in the direction of making a much better first impression,” Tyler says.

At test Target cafes, hot dogs out, salads in [USA Today]