In May this year, a group of retailers and suppliers attended the UCB Study Tour of Amsterdam, UK and Ireland. The idea of the study tour was to understand the emerging trends and speak first hand to retailers who have moved aggressively into the food space while maintaining successful businesses.

What was evident on the trip is that while the migration into food has been pronounced, traditional Convenience still prospers on the back of store format changes and greater presence through the store. The retailers we spoke to, especially in Ireland, highlighted a need for a balanced approach, one which delivers foot traffic drivers while maintaining an impulsive presence. After visiting nearly 60 stores across the three countries, I worked through what, in my belief, were consistent themes of the success of Convenience in these markets.

Please click here for full article: C&I Magazine August-September 2017