The supermarket is dead — long live the supermarket!
For as much as online shopping has grown in recent years — and will continue to grow — the fact remains that the majority of consumers still prefer to shop in-store. For many retailers, the key differentiating factor between themselves and the competition is not what's online, but what's in their aisles.
With that in mind, grocers are trying to elevate their store experience. For some, like Kroger and its digital shelves, utilizing technology to seamlessly blend the online and offline experience is a key focus. For others, it's a matter of turning up the volume on time-honored features like food service and staffed meat counters.
To test out new experiences and stay on top of consumer trends, retailers are accelerating their development of flagship stores. Albertsons' new Boise location, which features a concierge and a bar with arguably the best view in food retail, might be the best example of this.
Ultimately, grocers want shoppers to treat their stores as destinations — as places where customers can slow down, peruse selections and simply have a good time.
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Grocers step up their game with flagship stores
From free popcorn to bars with a view, these next-generation stores are helping retailers differentiate themselves and test out new features in an increasingly competitive industry. Read More »
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5 ways grocers are elevating the store experience
From store-grown produce to a renewed emphasis on service counters, retailers are focusing on innovation as well as time-honored strategies in an effort to keep their stores relevant. Read More »
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Fresh foods continue to drive in-store sales, report notes
Despite focus on e-commerce growth, Nielsen says store sales of perishable items were nearly 14 times higher than all sold online this year. Read More »
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Poll: 84% of consumers never buy groceries online
Despite the hype around digital disruption and e-commerce, Gallup found four out of five Americans go to a brick-and-mortar store at least once a week. Read More »
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What will grocery shopping look like in the future?
People will take a more active role in what they eat, have more opportunities to interact with products and know more about how food impacts their bodies, a pair of futurists said at a July U.S. Chamber of Commerce event. Read More »
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In-store restaurants help grocers craving millennial shoppers
Retailers such as Hy-Vee’s Market Grille in the Midwest serves up $2 pints of beer, while H-E-B’s True Texas BBQ offers breakfast tacos every morning. Read More »
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What's for dinner? How grocery stores can use foodservice to answer
According to a study by the Food Marketing Institute, just 15% of consumers frequently think of retail foodservice when they don't know what to eat. Read More »
