Target expands next-day delivery, names new supply chain head

Target is making big moves in its supply chain operations. The retail giant announced this week that it’s expanding next-day delivery to 60% of the US population with the addition of 50 new metro areas. It also named ex-Walmart executive Jeff England as its new chief global supply chain and logistics officer.

Target is tasking England with “accelerating Target’s supply chain plans to improve its shopping experience,” per a company release, with a focus on delivering “greater speed, reliability and precision.”

England worked at Walmart for nearly two decades, attaining the position of SVP of supply chain before leaving for the Genuine Parts Company. His most recent position was as chief supply officer for QXO, a global supplier of roofing products, where he “improved inventory availability [and] reduced transportation costs,” according to Target.

In a company blog post, England outlined some of his priorities for Target. While acknowledging recent gains in “reliability, speed, and efficiency,” he said the next step is “accelerating progress in those areas with technology and operational excellence,” calling out AI and automation in particular as ways to speed up manual and repetitive tasks so associates can spend more time on other parts of the job.

“Technology won’t change our plans, just enhance them—and improve our team members’ experience at the same time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the expansion of next-day delivery is bringing a major perk to more customers. Right now, same-day delivery reaches 80% of the population, and two-day shipping reaches 99% of the population.

While next-day falls in between those offerings in terms of speed, it’s free for orders over $35 for Target Circle 360 members. Next-day delivery encompasses brown boxes delivered to customers’ doorsteps, whereas same-day delivery serves a separate supply chain for grocery items and other essentials.

Two-thirds of Target’s digital sales fall within services eligible for same-day delivery, while the other third are available for next-day delivery, CFO James Lee told shareholders last quarter.