grocery | In Your Head

the new wave of traceability

April 23, 2013 | By Shannon Kelly

Carrefour stores in Shanghai are embracing QR codes as a tool for communicating food safety, quality, and freshness of vegetables and fruits to customers. The codes within pricing boards take local to the next level by allowing the customer to view the production place and date of the item, the business license of its supplier, and other information regarding the farm.

The in-store signage also assists in creating a deeper relationship between farm, store, and customer. According to Fresh Plaza, the intent is to improve food safety and freshness, and also increase farmers' incomes at the same time.

When our team visited this Shanghai location, not all produce had this option. For example, the selections of imported and organic produce didn't have QR signage.

The cause and effect of food safety in China may have played a role in implementing this marketing and merchandising strategy, but we believe that there is more to glean from this type of communication. QR codes are not simply for directing a consumer to a facebook page. This type of implementation brings traceability to the forefront -- and inspires a sense of connection and trust across a global production and supply chain.

By divulging the names and relationships of Carrefour's suppliers to the community, including it's competitors, they may have gained more loyalty longterm.

Tags: food, produce, retail, grocery, Shanghai, china, QR codes, merchandising, marketing, SmartCommerce, AugmentedReality, Infolust

pairing kismet

November 29, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly

Some things are just meant to be. One day we spot a new product in the cheese department at Whole Foods and the next we’re introduced to the founder of Simple & Crisp through a friend.

Encouraged by friends who loved her pairings served with dehydrated fruit, Jane Yuan launched her newest venture this month (she is also the woman behind Seattleite) to enhance the flavors of sweet or savory appetizers, beverages, and desserts. And it's easy to understand why Simple & Crisp will resonate with customers — in addition to being a gluten-free alternative, the products highlight the evolution of DIY and preservation trends with seasonal minimalism.

{photo: Simple & Crisp}

We love how Simple & Crisp celebrates Lessism and sophistication.

Tags: food, beverage, seasonal, produce, Lessism, CPG, seattle, grocery

left coast, right vibe

September 27, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly

Effortlessly, without the use of subway tile or metro-racks, you can tell that Local 1205 has a New York influence — without an olive oil sampling table or menacing tower of coffee beans in burlap bags. Let's face it, we've all seen plenty of knock-off Dean & DeLuca's in the specialty grocery market, and it was time for someone to give shoppers something new.

Craig Weiss' micro-mart concept is rustic and industrial enough to let the gourmet foods, local produce, East-Coast style deli, and raw bar shine.

Local 1205 might not be entirely local, but the merchandise assortment is compelling nonetheless. Across from a selection of imported mustards (France), Boat Street Pickles (Seattle), and Pane Carasau (Italy) there's a counter for grass-fed meats, charcuterie, bread, and a station for made-to-order sandwiches. House made Porchetta balances New York meats from Katz’s and 2nd Avenue Deli.

In front of the sandwich counter, a variety of pickles and olives in barrels make an Organic Foods Store self-serve fixture look impersonal.

The space is well organized and a bit sparse by grocery standards. We imagined a few of our merchant pals clamoring to "stack it high and let it fly". But clearly quality trumps quantity here. There's space for everything to breathe, including metal bins for bulk dry-foods like steel cut oats.

An extensive cold pressed juice and smoothie program coupled with raw vegan foods reflect LA's sunny disposition without that hippie vibe. Of the four distinct areas within the store, this is clearly the busiest.

Tags: LA, food, artisan, grocery, merchandising, design, GlobalLocality, California, retail

in the round

December 13, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

We've long been fans of circular shapes that create interactive experiences.

In Barcelona, the open-air farmers market La Boqueria showcases an abundance of fresh seafood in brightly lit stalls that look more like space-age carousels than fish stands. Customers are able to navigate efficiently through the maze of vendors and explore the captivating displays.

We love the use of a rounded shape in retail, restaurants, and bars as a focal point that celebrates design and function.

Tags: food, restaurants, bars, Spain, Barcelona, design, visual, farmers markets, merchandising, grocery

news bites 11.11.11

November 11, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

A compilation of the best, relevant, and interest-worthy ideas and news from the past week...

CULTURE

{image: Gilt.com}

- Is “Content and Commerce” the future? As magazines & retail converge, where will the editorial line be drawn?

- NYC needs this: Virtual grocery shopping via phone using QR codes at subway stops in Prague.

FASHION

- Watch out Pinterest, PPR just invested $10m in Joe Einhorn’s company new website: The Fancy. (follow or re-pin @trendscaping on Pinterest)

- As Marc Jacobs-Dior talks halt; Fashionologie reports that Alexander Wang, Raf Simons, and Jason Wu are now being considered.

- According to IBM’s Coremetrics Benchmark, Mobile retail traffic projected to more than double this holiday season.

FOOD

{photo: EvolutionFresh.com}

- Starbucks, acquiring juice brand Evolution Fresh, will attempt to do with juice what it did with coffee.

- No surprises here: 2012 food trends, including the rise of Korean food trucks and fine dining, focus on consumer need according to Nation's Restaurant News.

Tags: food, fashion, beverages, trends, trendscaping, social networks, mobile, advertising, marketing, grocery, QR codes, Korean Food

tapping into the DIY trend

November 8, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Craft-centric trends are gaining a larger audience thanks to clever marketing and merchandising.

Privately made creations and one-of-a-kind expressions have exploded in the marketplace as consumers evolve beyond faux-crafted goods that are made to emulate gourmet foods or boho-chic products. DIY tips and tricks can be found from a plethora of resources: websites (we love P.S.- I made this... and Design*Sponge), magazines (check out Ready Made and anything from how-to queen Martha Stewart), books (both Apartment Gardening: Plants, Projects, and Recipes from Growing Food in Your Urban Home by Amy Pennington and Put 'em Up: A Comprehensive Home Preserving Guide for the Creative Cook, from Drying and Freezing to Canning and Pickling by Sherri Brooks Vinton are incredibly approachable and informational), video tutorials, and marketplaces (a post on DIY would not be complete without mentioning Etsy).

The initial success of the DIY movement has been largely focused on economics. As consumers question who grows their produce, raises their cattle, and manufacturers their clothing overseas, make-it-yourself projects allow them to control the in-puts and quality of final products. It's true that price will still remain a factor but the lure of controlling the end product via quality and craft has been key to the trends longevity.

DIY has evolved beyond the craft-store crowd — with mainstream retailers like Whole Foods (above) putting their spin on make-at-home displays. Fashion retailers are also embracing this theme by using everyday construction materials from plywood, 2x4s, screening, and metal piping to create elaborate structures like seen at Dover Street Market in London (below).

{photo: Dover Street Market}

As "making things" becomes relevant to a growing segment, the products, merchandising, and promotions will feel more thematic. Products should be double exposed (i.e. appearing in their "usual" spot and "famlied" together to create mini kits) to appear attractive to the hand-crafted connoisseur. These tactics create interest among potentials and DIY loyalists, who become invested psychologically and economically — resulting in sales of related items (relevant to the DIY task) and/or a cost-shift "trade up" on unrelated items due to the perceived savings achieved by DIY activities.

We love how "open source" projects and collaborative events are embracing an attitude of authorship and co-creation and it is only logical that business owners embrace this trend.

Tags: DIY, food, grocery, visual merchandising trends, merchandising, Eco-friendly, artisan

cornelia and co.

September 28, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Barcelona hotspot seeks identity as New York gourmet grocery. Or at least that's the word on the street (and on the web) about Cornelia and Co.

Fortunately for the owners- this restaurant meets specialty shop is more than just a Dean & Deluca imitation. Sure there is a nod to the iconic retailer but, for the most part, the space feels like a streamlined Italian bodega or a stunning Spanish version of one of the MoMA cafes.

Billed as a “Daily Picnic Store”, the merchandising of food products ranging from packaged meats and delicious cheeses to an International selection of wine and to-go antipasti. Stainless steel casework is used in combination with mismatched furniture and a monochromatic palate to showcase an authentic love of food under vaulted ceilings.

Italian touches, from equipment to products (both prosciutto and jamon iberico are represented side by side on the menu) are highlighted purposefully within the U-shaped space. The cafe-style seating flanks both walls, with a larger space dedicated eating areas toward the back of the room to give the impression of distinct environments.

Shelves filled with gourmet products for "picnicking" are adjacent to a buffet-style hot station. The all-day restaurant shifts gears in the evening, when the the cafeteria closes and servers attend to the tables of lawyers having an after work cocktail, couples dining on freshly-made pasta and beautiful people toasting with glasses of Cava (or Prosecco).

There's a great blend of informality and structure in the design philosophy of the environment as well as the branding. Clipboards securing the dinning menu feel more American schoolhouse than Catalonian with chalkboard black and white graphics.

The refrigerated cheese cellar is a hidden treasure within the interior part of the U-shape. No matter where you look, there is something to captivate your eyes and wallets.

Always a sucker for beautifully packaged foods, the service clearly makes Cornelia and Co. a destination. In a city full of compelling design we love the chic downtown atmosphere, tempting displays, and exquisite merchandising.

Tags: Barcelona, Spain, retail, grocery, merchandising, trendscaping, artisan, design, packaging

foraging: an effort in reclaiming seasonal foods

July 28, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Approximately two years ago we found what looked like a morel in the garden and within hours Langdon Cook, author of Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager confirmed via @twitter that the mushroom was edible. Thanks to social media, we became pseudo foragers.

Like urban gardening, foraging is becoming progressively more mainstream as shoppers seek out seasonal, locally grown and sustainable foods. Culturally, the concept of seeking and hand-selecting wild edibles works well with the desire for unique experiences— aligning with popular terms like artisan, bespoke and curate. We reconnected with the author to gain a deeper understanding of how foraging and reconnecting with our agrarian past is not just another food trend, but a widely accepted part of daily life that generations today are rediscovering.

"My hope is that a renewed enthusiasm for foraging will help advance current debate about food issues. Foraging is seasonal by its very nature. Many foraged foods are exceptionally nutritious, much more so, in fact, than their domestic counterparts (i.e. "weeds" such as watercress, dandelions, lambs-quarters and stinging nettles are off the charts in vitamins and minerals; huckleberries are loaded with antioxidants; wild salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids; even mushrooms contain certain necessary minerals). said Langdon Cook. Foraging encourages a closer relationship with the landscape and the foods we eat. To become educated about foraging is to become educated about food. That said, it's incumbent on the forager to learn about those plants and fungi that are not edible."

The rise in demand of foraged edibles in restaurants has gradually increased the popularity of events, excursions, classes and blogs to inform passionate gastronomes. Below are four concepts worth checking out.

Forage - One of LA Magazines's best new restaurants featuring produce from local growers. Opened in January 2010, the initial and revised foraging program encourages customers to bring in their own home-grown produce (If they like it and accept it, Forage will make a dish with it and name it after you. A blog post titled The return of foraging details all of the ins and outs).
Forage Foods - Calgary based take-out shop focusing on ready to eat foods made with a majority of local foods from sustainable farms opened in 2007. Specials include a wide range of pre-prepared foods, fresh baked goods, fresh produce, frozen meals, and local gourmet foods.

{photo: Nettletown.com}

Nettletown - Hidden in a tiny strip mall along Seattle's Eastlake Ave, Nettletown opened March 2010 (formerly the Sitka and Spruce space). A personal lunch favorite, the noodles, home-made pickles and sandwiches highlights wild and local ingredients from Christina Choi of Foraged & Found Edibles.
Foragers Market - Dumbo (Brooklyn, New York) is a family run market with sustainable produce and well-edited selection assortment of foods. The menu reflects more growing and sourcing of quality seasonal foods than foraged foods but we like the city grocer feel.

Prized treasures like mushrooms and wild greens can be harvested throughout many parts of the US but success depends on a variety of visual and seasonal hints. Much like the dumpster diving craze of the late 80's, a misstep could find you face-to-face with something extraordinarily unsafe. Talk to an expert and don't needle/nettle around.

{editors note 9/15/11: Nettletown closed August 28, 2011 to pursue other ventures. We wish them all the best and will definitely miss the knoepfli and good company}

Tags: Edible garden, food, trends, artisan, curate, Culture, farmers markets, Eco-friendly, restaurants, seattle, LA, nyc, grocery

luxe market bag

July 25, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Cast of Vices spin on the corner store shopping bag made from super-smooth, high-grade embossed lambskin and sewn in Los Angeles. Each bag is a direct reflection of the original, disposable product it's based on—but realized at the extreme opposite in terms of aesthetic, materials and manufacturing.

This luxe alternative to BYOB (as in bring you own bag) was spotted at A+R Store in Venice, CA. Check it out!

Tags: luxury, luxury products, accessories, LA, artisan, grocery

innovation in Austin

June 28, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Following in the steps of the bulk food-only Unpackaged in London, a group of entrepreneurs are founding a new "package-free, zero waste grocery store" in Whole Foods land: Austin, Texas.

At the center of In.gredients brand promise is the concept of Precycling - encouraging customers to bring their bottles or bags to fill and refill. If a shopper doesn't have his own containers, the store will provide compostable ones to hold an assortment of traditional specialty bulk foods as well as local, all-natural and organic ingredients from local and seasonal suppliers. Best of all, customers will be able to purchase non-traditional bulk items like Dairy (milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese), beer and wine (bring your clean and empty growlers and wine bottles), and household items (cleaners, toiletries, etc) in the quantities that fit their specific needs.

We love that this new model makes food more affordable, because customers aren't paying for name brands and "in-house" private label packaging. It also trends nicely with shoppers increasing desire to connect locally at farmers markets while minimizing precious time.

All we want now is a visual merchandising supplier to revamp the standard bulk displays to meet customers savvy and stylish shopping habits.

{source: Good.is}

Tags: grocery, food, Austin, Texas, customizable, merchandising, innovation, trends, packaging, coming soon