Supermarkets are changing for the better - YOU decide what they sell
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Members, we've all been there before – you head to your local supermarket for one thing only to find that it's nowhere to be found on the shelves.
It can be frustrating, especially if you're in a hurry or don't have time to drive somewhere else!
Thankfully, a new offering from IGA is here to solve that problem for good. Introducing Local Grocer – the biggest retail brand rollout in Australian history!
But what is it exactly, and what makes it more special than the usual supermarkets?
This groundbreaking concept is letting customers decide what's in stores.
Using data, technology and old-school customer interaction, each of the 400 Local Grocers set to open within months will cater specifically to the wants and needs of their community. No two stores will be exactly alike!
IGA's flagship Local Grocer store has already opened its doors in Epping (northwest Sydney), and it's already become a big hit with shoppers in the area.
Brothers Antoine and Richard Rizk run the store in Epping, which is their fifth after working in the industry for more than a decade. The store, in Antoine's words, was created so that the local shoppers could find 'pretty much everything they need' in one easy-to-access place.
He went so far as to say that they purposely avoided putting in self-service checkouts so that they could interact with their regulars more frequently. That’s something we love to hear!
Before opening, he said, they surveyed customers and held focus groups to learn what kinds of things they were interested in purchasing.
'There's a lot of customisation for the local Asian community, and we have quite a big range in the grocery, dairy, freezer and fruit and vegetable aisles,' he said.
'The survey provided us with a bunch of feedback about how frequently they cook and what kinds of products they require.'
Although the store had only been operating for a short time, he said that new products were being added regularly in response to customer demand.
Apparently, this supermarket concept also allows shoppers to have access to several items not normally found in major supermarkets.
'We want to behave like their fresh pantry,' said Antoine.
'Our customisation is a huge point of difference, and it gives us a competitive advantage. Having that local knowledge is critical, and it's not just the range; it's also the flow and layout and space allocated to different product ranges.'
Antoine also stated that he wished to dispel the misconception that IGAs were more expensive than traditional supermarkets by highlighting the chain's price match policy and the frequent sales that were promoted in-store and via the online catalogues.
So, what does all this mean for you, the consumer?
Simply put, it means that the supermarket shopping experience is about to change - big time! No more will you needlessly waste time wandering the supermarket in search of a specific item, just to be let down to find that they do not offer it.
If a grocery store is 'more personalised' and always listens to what its customers have to say, you can be sure that the next time you go there, they will have what you need.
Are you looking forward to having a Local Grocer store near you soon? We sure are, so let us know what you think in the comments below!
It can be frustrating, especially if you're in a hurry or don't have time to drive somewhere else!
Thankfully, a new offering from IGA is here to solve that problem for good. Introducing Local Grocer – the biggest retail brand rollout in Australian history!
But what is it exactly, and what makes it more special than the usual supermarkets?
This groundbreaking concept is letting customers decide what's in stores.
Using data, technology and old-school customer interaction, each of the 400 Local Grocers set to open within months will cater specifically to the wants and needs of their community. No two stores will be exactly alike!
IGA's flagship Local Grocer store has already opened its doors in Epping (northwest Sydney), and it's already become a big hit with shoppers in the area.
Brothers Antoine and Richard Rizk run the store in Epping, which is their fifth after working in the industry for more than a decade. The store, in Antoine's words, was created so that the local shoppers could find 'pretty much everything they need' in one easy-to-access place.
He went so far as to say that they purposely avoided putting in self-service checkouts so that they could interact with their regulars more frequently. That’s something we love to hear!
Before opening, he said, they surveyed customers and held focus groups to learn what kinds of things they were interested in purchasing.
'There's a lot of customisation for the local Asian community, and we have quite a big range in the grocery, dairy, freezer and fruit and vegetable aisles,' he said.
'The survey provided us with a bunch of feedback about how frequently they cook and what kinds of products they require.'
Although the store had only been operating for a short time, he said that new products were being added regularly in response to customer demand.
Apparently, this supermarket concept also allows shoppers to have access to several items not normally found in major supermarkets.
'We want to behave like their fresh pantry,' said Antoine.
'Our customisation is a huge point of difference, and it gives us a competitive advantage. Having that local knowledge is critical, and it's not just the range; it's also the flow and layout and space allocated to different product ranges.'
Antoine also stated that he wished to dispel the misconception that IGAs were more expensive than traditional supermarkets by highlighting the chain's price match policy and the frequent sales that were promoted in-store and via the online catalogues.
Key Takeaways
- A new supermarket concept called IGA's Local Grocer is aiming to solve the problem of customers not being able to find what they're looking for in stores.
- The Local Grocer concept is based on customer feedback and data, and each of the 400 stores set to open within months will cater to the specific wants and needs of the local community.
- The first Local Grocer store has just opened in Epping in Sydney's northwest, and the concept is already a hit with local shoppers.
Simply put, it means that the supermarket shopping experience is about to change - big time! No more will you needlessly waste time wandering the supermarket in search of a specific item, just to be let down to find that they do not offer it.
If a grocery store is 'more personalised' and always listens to what its customers have to say, you can be sure that the next time you go there, they will have what you need.
Are you looking forward to having a Local Grocer store near you soon? We sure are, so let us know what you think in the comments below!