Nisa dropped its Store of the Future moniker this week as it showcased its latest thinking around store design.
The Co-op-owned buying group launched its Store of the Future 2 Evolution concept two years ago and updated it a year later. Now the format has been rebranded as Evolution and was unveiled this week at the Nisa Expo in Stoneleigh.
The latest concept includes an extended Co-op own-label range, reworked food-to-go offer and a store within a store element for beers, wines and spirits.
The modular nature of the concept means retailers can opt for the whole format or pick and choose different elements, including new additions such as self-service checkouts and a reverse vending machine for recycling plastic bottles.
Last year the focus on food to go was based around serve over counters, which Nisa sales director Steve Leach admitted had not worked for its retailers. It is now more tailored to self-service with the addition of freshly squeezed orange juice machines and stations for refilling water customers’ water bottles.
The BWS area features a variety of different display units and lighting with branding such as The Spirit Shop and The Wine Shop.
“Importantly this year, the Stoneleigh store allows us the opportunity to demonstrate the optimal range of Co-op own-brand products in both ambient and chill,” said Nisa head of format and development Darren May. “Our aim is to showcase to all our partners what is possible, providing them with a vision for their own stores that they can take away and recreate.”
Meanwhile, the Co-op and Nisa have agreed to develop a generic non-branded compostable bag for their partners’ businesses after the Co-op rolled out branded compostable bags to 1,000 stores last year.
“The modern consumer is changing, with an increasing number shopping more ethically. Our partners were conscious of that trend and were keen to meet that need,” explained Nisa CEO Ken Towle.
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