Coop launches new store concept

More and more people feed themselves on the road, and not at home or in restaurants anymore. Coop has recognized this trend early and has expanded its competence in the domain of food consumed on the go. Now the retail trader is launching a new store concept under the name of «Coop to go», which focuses solely on eating outside the home. The extensive range for example includes a muesli- and salad bar and exclusive take-away products such as home-made smoothies or handmade small breads. The first «Coop to go» opened August 19, at train station Zurch Stadelhofen.

The eating habits of the Swiss are changing. Last year, over 2.6 billion Franks were spent on fast food. Food that can be enjoyed without great effort is especially popular with the 15-29 year olds. Especially on workdays, many spend less and less time preparing food. At the same time demand for fast, fresh and healthy food is growing. Coop had already recognized this need in the past, and covered it with an extensive take-away range. “Now we will take a decisive step further and launch a whole new store concept, which only sells food products for immediate consumption” Joos Sutter, chair of Coop management, rejoices.

50 locations in 5 years
The first «Coop to go» opened this week, Wednesday the 19th of August at the Zurch Stadelhofen train station. 50 more outlets are to follow in the coming 5 years. The assortment includes a large choice of exclusive take-away products. In the morning, a muesli bar awaits with a large choice of fruit, yoghurt and cereals, which can be combined when the fancy takes you. Customers can even compile a vegan muesli. After breakfast time, the self-service bar is transformed into a diversified salad bar. Besides that, the store also includes a large range of handmade small breads, hot panini, home-made smoothies, piled muesli and further products for immediate consumption. And new products are added all the time. Optically, «Coop to go» distinguishes itself through an urban appearance, for example thanks to the wooden floor-look and brick-wall optics. The new sales format also has its own logo, so that «Coop to go» is immediately recognizable.

Competence in fresh convenience and outside-home consumption
For over ten years now Coop has recognized that the want for fast, and at the same time good food, is increasing. As such, Coop completely took over Betty Bossi in 2012, and was market leader in the domain of fresh convenience in Switzerland in 2014 with a turnover of over 700 million Francs. In 2013, Coop launched the vegetarian product line Karma, with great success, and with 60 products altogether, reached a turnover of over 20 million Francs in 2014. Furthermore, the assortment includes further products for immediate consumption and some often visited stores lead an own take-away range with Coop Take It.

Source: www.coop.ch