Adding local flavour

Enticing customers to stay in a store longer is good business. Many grocers are stepping up their game and investing in the right decor, lighting and food products to deliver a shopping experience that will keep customers coming back. One Calgary Co-op store is aiming to do this by collaborating with two of the city’s popular restaurants.

The West Springs Calgary Co-op has partnered with the restaurateurs behind popular fried chicken joint Cluck N Cleaver and Spolumbo’s Fine Foods and Deli, opening two standalone kiosks inside the store in July.

“By partnering with local businesses, we are able to uniquely differentiate ourselves and provide our members with convenience, an outstanding assortment of products, and exceptional experiences,” says Penney McTaggart-Cowan, vice-president, marketing and member experiences at Calgary Co-op.

The Spolumbo’s and Cluck N Cleaver kiosks will both operate independently from the grocery store. Each will have its own unique decor, and both will maintain their own cash registers.

“Co-op wanted to offer great quality local food to their clientele, things that people can grab quickly, but that are still good quality,” explains Francine Gomes, a co-owner of Cluck N Cleaver. At the Cluck N Cleaver counter, Co-op customers can find all the favourites they’d expect from the restaurant’s flagship location. “It will be a true Cluck N Cleaver,” with offerings like fresh French-style rotisserie chicken and crispy fried chicken, she says.

The restaurant collaboration is a first for Calgary Co-op, but McTaggart-Cowan says supporting local is part of Co-op’s spirit. “When we approached these two local entrepreneurs it was with the knowledge this would be a fantastic fit,” she explains. “With recent trends in the food industry there is a consistent focus on unique offerings for consumers. This partnership will allow for a more engaging customer experience and will help move our brand forward.”