The retail giant joins the likes of McDonald’s, Walmart, Amazon, and Tractor Supply Co.
Target on Friday became the latest major U.S. retailer to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, according to an announcement released by the company.
A fact sheet posted by Target on Jan 24 said it will be concluding its “three-year diversity, equity, and inclusion goals” and ending its “Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in 2025 as planned.”
The company said it is also “stopping all external diversity-focused surveys, including HRC’s Corporate Equality Index,” referring to the LGBT group Human Rights Campaign.
Target will also start reviewing corporate partnerships and ensuring employee resource groups are focused on mentorship and community development.
“These communities will continue to be open to all,” it said.
The Minneapolis-based retailer, which has thousands of stores across the United States, will also change its “supplier diversity team” to “supplier engagement” to better reflect its “global procurement process across a broad range of suppliers,” including increasing its focus on small businesses.
“Throughout 2025, we’ll be accelerating action in key areas and implementing changes with the goal of driving growth and staying in step with the evolving external landscape. We will continue to monitor and adjust as needed,” the company said.
The now-ended program’s goals included hiring and promoting more women and members of racial minority groups as well as using suppliers operated by minorities.
“Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Kiera Fernandez, Target’s executive vice president and chief community impact and equity officer, wrote in a memo. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
Multiple major U.S. corporations in recent months have ended or rolled back DEI policies, including McDonald’s, Harley-Davidson, Walmart, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Tractor Supply Co. John Deere, Lowe’s, and others.
