Sedano's debuts new look at 35th Florida store

Dive Brief:

Independent Hispanic grocer Sedano’s Supermarkets will open its 35th location and 10th in Hialeah, Florida, Nov. 6, according to a company news release.
The Miami-based retailer’s new store will span 35,000 square feet and will employ almost 100 people, the company said. It will also feature a new look and decor, a hot food station, sandwich bar and seating for in-store dining.
The first 200 customers will receive a free reusable grocery bag and a gift card with a value between $5 and $200. The grocer will offer several deals during the grand opening as well as live cooking demonstrations with Goya Foods.

Dive Insight:

The new store gives Sedano’s, which has been a part of the Florida grocery scene since 1962, an opportunity to stand out from the region's cutthroat competition. Both traditional supermarkets and specialty stores are fighting hard for grocery dollars in the Sunshine State, with Aldi and Publix vying for territory while Sedano's and Fresco Y Mas try to win shoppers with unique offerings and innovation.

Hispanic grocers like Northgate Gonzales, Fiesta Mart and Cardenas are seeing their role in the U.S. market expand as the demographic grows. According to the U.S. Census, the Hispanic population is projected to reach 62.3 million by 2020, up from 49 million in 2010.

But even with this demographic increase, if Sedano's hopes to be successful with its new prepared food stations it'll have to keep up with sanitation requirements. The grocer has been cited multiple times for failing health inspections. Its most recent inspection in September found unsanitary issues at a store in North Lauderdale, Florida, according to Local 10 news. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ordered a re-inspection once conditions were cleared.

Sedano’s also offers grocery pickup and delivery, and is one of the early adopters of micro-fulfillment. The company partnered with Takeoff Technologies in February to fill customer orders quickly, some in five minutes or less. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the company’s micro-fulfillment operations are located in an 11,000-square-foot space at a Sedano’s supermarket in Miami. The center supports delivery and click-and-collect for 14 Sedano’s supermarkets.