Midwestern retailer Meijer is preparing to hire thousands of new team members for its stores in response to company growth and in preparation for the fall and holiday selling seasons, announced Janet Emerson, executive vice president of operations for the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer.

“Meijer has already opened five of the six new stores planned for this year, with another nine opening next year,” Emerson said. One of those stores opened in June in Warsaw. “Our continued growth, along with the upcoming holiday selling season, make it imperative that we increase our staffing to properly operate our stores and deliver on the Meijer promise of providing exceptional customer service.”

Meijer stores are open 24 hours, and only close on Christmas Day. While staffing needs vary from store to store, all Meijer stores have positions available. The retailer is planning to hire more than 9,000 new team members including 1,800 in Indiana, 4,400 in Michigan, 1,600 in Ohio, 900 in Illinois and 500 in Kentucky.

Interested candidates are asked to complete an online application at jobs.meijer.com. During the online application process, prospective team members can indicate their store preference. Candidates may also complete an online application at the employment kiosks located at the front of most Meijer stores. Local store management will then follow up with qualified candidates.

“While many of these opportunities are part time, these jobs can provide a gateway to a full-time career at Meijer,” said Kevin Wiederhold, vice president of human resources for retail operations. “As we continue to grow, we are frequently looking to fill our on-going part-time and full-time needs. These positions provide a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and demonstrate success within a growing company.¡¨

Most new Meijer stores require 200 to 250 team members. While traditional retail positions, such as stockers and cashiers are needed, there are also opportunities in more specialized roles such as meat cutters and cake decorators, which often lead to future leadership opportunities.