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Richard J. George, Ph.D.'s RetailWire Blog
March 1, 2010
Supermarkets on Tap
FROM RETAILWIRE:
Both Wegmans and Whole Foods have recently opened pubs inside stores in Pennsylvania, serving beer, wine and drinks. What do you think of the idea of pubs in supermarkets? Does it take a Wegmans or Whole Foods to pull it off or is this something most grocers could handle?
MY COMMENTARY:
Pubs and restaurants in supermarkets should be viewed in a marketing versus sales context. In other words, do these foodservice operations reinforce the perception and positioning of the food retailer in the minds of the target market? In the case of Wegmans and Whole Foods, the answer appears to be a resounding "yes." As for other supermarkets considering such an idea, I would add the caveat of making the necessary commitment to such an adventure. Years ago, during the HMR craze, most supermarkets attempted to add meals. With the exception of Ukrops, who made a real commitment to "convenient meal solutions," most supermarkets failed in this endeavor. Assuming foodservice fits the supermarket strategy and can be successfully executed than this is something that should seriously be considered. |
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