In the beginning, there was no grand strategy. Yesterday's retailers had no master plan or blueprint that pointed to the future.
Many fresh-food departments started out as simple convenience counters aimed at supporting Center Store. The idea was simply to add fresh-food elements as yet another way of capturing the shopper for a few extra items that normally would have been purchased from freestanding delis, bakeries or meat shops.
But those early decisions set the supermarket industry down an exciting path that today showcases full-fledged departments brimming with fresh foods sourced from around the world and infused with signature flavors and style.
Today, fresh departments are destinations themselves that have forever changed the way consumers shop, and have become the standard by which the buying public chooses their preferred store.
