Customers’ desire for low touch and convenient experiences is at an all-time high following the pandemic, with safety and speed the top drivers when grocery shopping.
In response, UK supermarket brands are launching new ‘local’ formats that offer products and services for customers’ daily needs – from household essentials to fresh food-to-go, encouraging repeat visits throughout the week. Tech plays a key role, providing shoppers with a touchless experience that seamlessly picks up where they left off online or in-store via their phones, amplifying safety and convenience.
Amazon Fresh opened its second location in Wembley Park, London. The store features Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, where customers activate their Amazon account by scanning their phone upon entry, and ceiling cameras and shelf sensors track items and charge them to shoppers’ accounts when they leave. The store sells prepared meals, a curated selection of groceries, as well as Amazon devices.
Iceland opened the first trial store of its convenience format called Swift, in Newcastle, UK. The store aims to be ‘Fast. Fresh. Local’ offering customers a wide range of fresh and frozen meal solutions. Iceland plans to roll out the format to over 1000 stores in the UK if the trial is successful.
Retail
Amazon opens its second Amazon Fresh store in London, UK
UK Supermarket Iceland opens new convenience format under ‘Swift’ brand
Hospitality
International tourists are banned for Tokyo Olympics
Marriott launches W Hotels brand in Japan with a new hotel in Osaka
Campaigns
Mini’s new global campaign enlists famous creatives to launch its latest model
Lego’s new campaign celebrates self-expression in a four-part series
Initiatives
Adidas and Peloton create a new branded apparel line
H&M launches styling app for menswear
Amazon will expand on-demand healthcare offering called Amazon Care in the US
Hugo Boss launches new music platform for inspiring artists
Convenience store Pret A Manger launches its food in Tesco
Nordstrom debuts interactive livestreams
Image courtesy of Wembley Park
