More restaurants opening in supermarkets
For example, those who shop by Edeka-Zurheide in Düsseldorf have the choice to not only choose from thousands of products as with any other supermarket, but also enjoy culinary delights. In the 'Gourmet Bistro' they can sample bouillabaisse, or take a seat in the sushi bar, the steak house or the café. All four are integrated within the sales floor. Other traders are also trying to integrate restaurants into their stores and for many normal restaurants or eateries this would be a very difficult thing to do.
Rewe director Alain Caparros wants to make Rewe supermarkets more attractive by offering gastronomic encounters. "In the future supermarkets will be meeting places," he thinks. At the moment Rewe are testing a new restaurant concept in three locations which they hope, in the future, to bring to more branches of the chain: 'Made by Rewe', rustic wooden tables are placed where people can eat pasta, pizza or Indian curry and there is also a breakfast buffet, but this is all still in the testing phase. "We will be trying various ideas until Autumn so of course some things will be added or removed," explained the manager responsible, Christoph Wenisch.
Wenisch sees good opportunities for the concept. "Consumer behaviour is changing. Many shop in the evening before going home and also want to go somewhere they can quickly eat and drink." This solution is particularly appealing to those people, as they can also do some grocery shopping. Kai Hudetz, director of the Institute for Trade Research IFH also says: "There is a lot of say for the success of such restaurants in Edeka, Rewe and co, since supermarkets can offer their customers good value for money."