Creating a Food Theater in Your Store

<p>By: Laurie Gethin, Director, Education, Food Marketing Institute<br /> <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/food-theather-and-store-design.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=34807f6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Food Theater and Store Design" title="Food Theater and Store Design" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>A colleague of mine recently celebrated her birthday in a rather unusual manner. Instead of going to an upscale restaurant or taking in a performance, she had her birthday celebration at a grocery store. You see, this millennial colleague loves the new restaurant in her local grocery store and insisted on celebrating there with friends and family.</p> <p>According to a recent article by <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/05/541664541/grocery-stores-draw-millennials-with-in-store-restaurants?utm_source=npr_newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=20170806&amp;utm_campaign=npr_email_a_friend&amp;utm_term=storyshare" target="_blank"><em>NPR</em></a>, my colleague is not alone in her love of grocery store restaurants. In fact, FMI&rsquo;s own <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-fresh-prepared-deli-2016">Power of Fresh Prepared/Deli</a> report talks about creating a food theater experience&mdash;one in which retailers provide a variety of fresh prepared offerings and create captivating culinary adventures that keep customers coming back.</p> <p>Designing these food theater experiences is just what retailers attending the upcoming <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017">Energy and Store Development Conference</a>, September 24 &ndash; 27 in Orlando, FL can expect to hear in several sessions. The breakout, <em>Becoming a Grocerant: Winning the Customer through Comprehensive Food Service Design</em>, will tackle the challenge of creating compelling fresh prepared food offerings in an in-store dining setting. When it comes to in-store culinary experiences, retailers need to consider branding and menu offerings, efficient food service kitchens and think through space planning and d&eacute;cor. A culinary focus can take retailers beyond the deli case and hot bar and provide shoppers with memorable and engaging experiences that connect them closer to their food selection&mdash;and their favorite store.</p> <p>Experts from <a href="http://grocerantdesigngroup.com/" target="_blank">Grocerant Design Group </a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.c-p.com/" target="_blank">Cuhaci &amp; Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners</a> will walk attendees through a strategic and comprehensive approach to designing and developing a successful food service program. Attendees will walk away with a roadmap to create, guide, and implement a differentiated and compelling restaurant concept right in their stores.</p> <p>Additional store design sessions promise attendees a fresh perspective. Here are a several sessions you won&rsquo;t want to miss:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">How to Maintain Relevancy in an Uncertain Future</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">Retail Tornados: Weathering the Store Retrofit Process</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">By 2025, Will the Traditional Grocery Store Be an Endangered Species?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">The Reinvention of Brick &amp; Mortar: Bringing New Life to Convenience, Experience, and Sustainability</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">What&rsquo;s Driving Today&rsquo;s Store Format and Design Trends?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017,2">Repurposing a Multi-Level Retail Space to a Food Store</a></li> </ul> <p>Learn more about the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/ESD2017">Energy and Store Development Conference</a>.</p>