Last weekend, the largest store of the Hannaford Supermarket chain opened its doors to the public. Debuting on June 18, the company unveiled a new design concept which could serve as the basis for future stores in the chain.
"The decor of this store will be completely new and reflects our commitment to the local community and producers; our roots as a northern New England grocer since 1883; and our focus on high-quality, fresh food,” Hannaford’s Director of Operations for the Manchester area and lifelong New Hampshire resident, John Fifield told the Bedford Journal. “The store layout draws from the latest research about how we make the shopping experience easier for customers."
The new location boasts a 68,000-square-foot floor plan, and features several concepts at once. Eric Blom, External Communications Manager at Hannaford Bros. Co., said that shoppers will be able to place orders online for in-store pickup, purchase made-to-order food on location or for take away, and customize food options such as gourmet sandwiches and burritos.
“This is going to be a learning laboratory to figure out just how effective certain services are when put together and offered in a large store,” continued Blom. “This will really inform the design and remodels of large Hannaford stores in the future.”
Additional features of the store, and perhaps those to follow, include:
The new location opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony, a sampling of local foods and other products, and a giveaway of gift cards and more to the first 500 customers through its doors.
Stay attuned to DeliMarket News as we follow Hannaford’s new store concept, and what this means for the constantly changing retail industry.
