Store of the future news

Sainsbury’s re-opened its Witney store today following several weeks of refurbishment that included being closed for 12 days. The store will be used to test many of Sainsbury’s ‘future role of store’ concepts and is host to a wide array of new features. Our latest ‘Store of the future’ report has highlighted the need for physical stores to embrace a new operating model to be able to thrive in...

Premium focused grocer, Gelson’s, which operates 28 supermarkets in Southern California, has opened a stunning flagship store in Los Angeles. We look at what makes this store special. Long standing reputation as a premium grocer Gelson’s has an enviable reputation as one of America’s leading premium grocery retailers. Alongside traditional fresh food departments, it offers chef-crafted sign...

Being prepared for future eventualities is of critical importance for any business. However, with so much disruption and uncertainty taking place globally it is understandable that businesses are focused on the next quarter or at most the next few years. Nevertheless, success will be achieved through thought leadership that comes from being visionary, and to be truly visionary you need to b...

At the recent Groceryshop event in Las Vegas, amid discussions on cutting-edge tech like AI, retail media, and unified commerce, the spotlight was also on the important theme of alternative revenue models. Let's delve deeper into this transformation. Broadening revenue horizons When we discuss alternative revenue models, we're essentially exploring new revenue sources that retailers are bei...

Choices Market has launched its first store on Vancouver Island, Canada, showcasing a new brand identity and design concept. We look inside this store which is centred on fresh foods and health and wellness. Health hub Operated by the Pattison Good Group, which is also the parent company of Save-On-Foods, Canada’s fifth largest grocer, this the retailer’s 11th store. The format leans into t...

Walmart Canada has opened a new Supercentre in Montreal, it’s most sustainable store to date. We look inside this store which also showcases the retailer’s latest design concept. Sustainability features The store is located in Marché Central, Montreal, one of Canada’s top-performing retail destinations and the city’s premier value shopping centres. The $20m investment has been designed to s...

Two major US retailers are piloting digital-first physical store concepts. Drugstore operator, Walgreens, and leading convenience retailer, Wawa, are testing to see how shoppers interact with these stores and adjust to a different way of shopping. These stores could also have a role to play in tackling retail crime. Walgreens Chicago Walgreens’ store in Chicago’s South Loop features a uniqu...

HEB, one of the most exciting retailers in the US has opened a new 107,000 sq ft store in Austin, Texas. We look at how the retailer balances experiential retail and value to deliver a compelling proposition. Reflecting the site’s heritage The site in Austin has some history, first as the Nutty Browns Mills which served as a flour mill and candy shop, and more recently as the Nutty Brown Ca...

Convenience is increasingly popular and valued among shoppers. Zabka paved the way for the autonomous 24/7 store concept in Poland, and Auchan opened its first concept store on the 26th of June. What’s the concept, and how does it work? With digitalisation and technology revolutionising the retail landscape, autonomous stores are gaining traction. To access the store, a payment ca...

Auchan’s corporate headquarters in Lille, France now features a cashierless store. Operating within Auchan’s innovation complex, this new store is named Auchan Go le Lab. The first tap-and-go store Auchan Go le Lab is the first store to enable a contactless tap-and-go experience where shoppers can tap their credit or debit card at the entrance gate. Previously, shoppers in Trigo-powered s...