Headlines

Target CEO to Meet with Sharpton

Session with civil rights leader to discuss retailer’s DEI rollback

Published

1 month ago

April 17, 2025

VMSD Staff

Target CEO to Meet with Sharpton — Foot traffic has reportedly fallen at Target stores since the retailer pulled back on its DEI initiatives earlier this year. Photo: Neal McNeil/iStock Photography

Foot traffic has reportedly fallen at Target stores since the retailer pulled back on its DEI initiatives earlier this year. Photo: Neal McNeil/iStock Photography

Target Corp. (Minneapolis) CEO Brian Cornell plans to meet with civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss the retailer’s decision to roll back its DEI programs, CNBC reports. The discussion, which Target requested, comes as the big-box retailer faces calls for a boycott and a slowdown in foot traffic that began soon after it said it was backing off from some DEI initiatives in January.

Sharpton has not called for a boycott of Target, but said he’ll consider it if the company doesn’t reaffirm its commitment to Black businesses, employees and consumers.

The session is expected to take place by the end of the week in New York.

Target’s plans to curtail its DEI initiatives became known when its Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer sent out a memo to employees saying such moves were “in step with the evolving external landscape.”

“With its decision to roll back DEI efforts, the cheap-chic retailer joined Walmart, McDonald’s, Tractor Supply and a slew of others that scrapped at least some DEI initiatives as they grew concerned that the programs could alienate some customers or land them in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end every DEI program across the federal government,” the CNBC report notes.

VMSD Staff

Drawing on more than 125 years of history serving the retail design market, VMSD magazine provides retail professionals with the most up-to-date, innovative retail design ideas and industry news through its industry-leading magazine, website, social media channels and bulletins.

click to Comment(Comment)

Up Next

The Vitamin Shoppe Bought by Private Equity Firms

Don't Miss

Female Firms Seek Tariff Exemptions

MasterClass: ‘Re-Sparkling’ Retail: Using Store Design to Build Trust, Faith and Brand Loyalty

HOW CAN WE EMPOWER and inspire senior leaders to see design as an investment for future retail growth? This session, led by retail design expert Ian Johnston from Quinine Design, explores how physical stores remain unmatched in the ability to build trust, faith, and loyalty with your customers, ultimately driving shareholder value.

Presented by:
Ian Johnston
Founder and Creative Director, Quinine Design