The traditional grocer is back. That is the belief of some industry watchers who point to anecdotal and quantitative data showing Americans, especially those 50+, are tired of trekking around big boxes and prefer smaller and more physically manageable stores.
"You're seeing a return to the traditional grocer," Kevin Griffin, publisher of the Griffin Report of Food Marketing, told The Patriot Ledger. "The smart retailers are waking up to realize that the mammoth superstore at 90,000 square feet - its day has just come and gone."
One retailer known for larger stores that has begun to roll out smaller boxes is Hannaford Bros. The chain's newest format, roughly 36,000 square-feet, is about one-third smaller than the traditional Hannaford Bros. store.
Other stores on opposite ends of the spectrum from a targeted consumer standpoint have also demonstrated that smaller stores can succeed. Trader Joe's and Aldi operate units typically around 15,000 square-feet. Tesco's new Fresh & Easy concept is also configured in a store that more closely resembles a convenience store in terms of footprint.
Discussion Questions: Does the construction of smaller stores mean companies are returning to the "traditional" grocery model as some have suggested or is something else taking place? Has the day of the big box come and gone in the grocery business? Are smaller stores the wave of the future?