Macy’s New Retail Foodservice Concept

Can grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food help save Macy’s? Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes it is a step in the right direction, and with a formal grocerant niche focus it very well could drive customer frequency while looking a customer ahead.

Consider that Macy’s has announced that it going to close 125 stores, it is at the crossroad, where the intersection of the consumer and food when I want it, where I want it is top of mind. That said, customer relevance can be driven with a great selection of eat in or take out mix & meal component selections.

Regular readers of the blog know that Millennials are focused on food discovery, and convenience.  So, the new Market by Macy’s with in-store Herald cafe and event center hopes to be more than a retail shopping space it aims to be an experience that foodies will migrate too.

Market by Macy’s, has created what it called a “20,000-square-foot immersive shopping experience that includes Herald, Market by Macy’s cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks daily along with craft cocktails, beer and wine.”

So get this, the food is presented and served on merchandise that is available for purchase within the cafe, featuring brands such as Macy’s Hotel Collection. Areas of Herald are accented by exclusive home favorites, including Martha Stewart Collection copper bakeware and handmade discoveries like Katie Kimmel’s ceramics. Johnson, likes the idea as it is both interactive and participatory.

Lauren Vocelle, manager of media relations for Macy’s Inc. South Region stated “Shoppers can dine in at Herald or grab and go,” …Market by Macy’s is also hoping to lure shoppers with the increasingly popular sip-while-you-shop trend. “Food items are sold within Herald at Market by Macy’s, but shoppers are welcome to bring their coffee or cocktail with them as they shop throughout the store,” Vocelle said.

Are you looking a customer ahead? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.