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Nisa launches latest Store of the Future 2 Evolution concept

A year on from the launch of its Store of the Future 2 Evolution format and Nisa is back to showcase its latest thinking on the convenience format with a new 4,000 sq.ft. store to be showcased at Stoneleigh this year.

While the Evolution format still prides itself on offering a greater degree of flexibility to retailers and moving away from a one size fits all model to a more modular development format, the latest concept has taken on board emerging trends in the marketplace to create a store design that demonstrates to retailers how best to capture additional footfall and spend while setting themselves apart from the competition.  

Since the launch of the first Store of the Future 2 concept, Nisa has completed 340 stores in total to date after accelerating its conversion programme. These stores have shown an average trading increase of 6%. 

The latest offering from Nisa’s format and development team looks to build on the growing importance of food to go and instore dining, featuring a seated coffee area with full Barista coffee offering, chillers displaying pastries and cakes and a self-serve chiller offering a variety of drinks including smoothies, chilled coffee and juices. 

The chilled food-to-go element now includes a self-serve salad bar, sushi option and freshly prepared sandwiches, while the hot element offers pies and pastries freshly prepared in store with research pointing toward 45% of food-to-go shoppers craving a larger range of hot food-to-go products.

Still in the fresh food-to-go area of the concept store and there is recognition of the increasing consumer demand for freshly made, create your own pizzas. A dedicated pizza zone takes pride of place offering pizzas prepared onsite for immediate consumption or made and packaged instore to take home and eat later.

“Key drivers of current revenue growth are found in expanding fresh foods, such as bakery/pastry items, onsite menus for breakfast, lunch, and fresh coffee that drive in-store traffic, provide higher margins and encourage purchase across categories,” said Darren May, head of format and development at Nisa. “Convenience stores and forecourt retailers should aim to become a destination for fresh, quality, on-the-go foods”

Other key developments include the off licence area which has been adapted to match the current market trend toward premium ales, craft beers and gins which are in consistent growth and so have been given a bespoke fixture to highlight these growing categories.

Having moved away from a one size fits all model through the development of the evolution model, the latest concept retains the modular approach to store development allowing the member to hand pick and evolve concepts to suit the needs of their own business.

“The aim is to give each store a unique quality and selling point, required to make a difference in the market place,” added Darren. “While all of the elements demonstrated in this year’s concept store won’t be for everyone, we are using this platform to showcase what is possible and where we see the market moving. The options we’re bringing to the table are sector leading and through our modular approach we’re making them available for a range of business types and budgets, encapsulating the ethos of Nisa as being for the many, not the few, and the partner of choice for retailers and wholesalers.”