The Grand Rapids-based retail chain also plans to hire 2,700 workers in Michigan this year after eliminating nearly 1,900 management positions in 2004. Between 2004 and 2005 Meijer's will open or has opened new stores in Southfield, Marysville, Standale, Oakland County's White Lake Township, Kent County's Gaines Township and Ottawa County's Holland Township.

Spokesman John Zimmerman says Meijer's will start hiring at each storeabout three months before it opens. The company just recently began taking applications for its White Lake Township store. The White Lake Township "supercenter" will cover 207,000 sf and offer more than 35 expanded departments.

Family-owned and operated Meijer's has 163 stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Faced by growing competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and others, Meijer's shed about 1,900 positions in January 2004 as part of its third reorganization in less than three years.