The new Coop supermarket

"Shopping is an emotional experience," explains Joos Sutter, CEO of Coop. "The world of shopping and customer needs have changed significantly in recent years. We are taking this into account with our new store concept by focusing more on the customer again." The very positive feedback from over 400 test customers surveyed shows that this has been successful. They put Coop's new store concept through its paces in a laboratory store in Bern-Schönbühl.Market atmosphere and shopping experienceYou can smell and see the freshness in the new Coop. There's a market atmosphere in the entrance area: colorful, fresh fruit and vegetables, beautifully presented in wooden crates, freshly baked bread in front of a brick wall, warm light. The "Chäshüsli" is reminiscent of the Chääsi, the newly designed meat counter in front of bright tiles of the village butcher's shop. The wood-framed refrigerated cabinets in the newly designed self-service area are better lit. Beer and wine worlds with wooden décor invite customers to sample the products, while beauty islands in the cosmetics area surprise customers with their regionality. In addition to the wide variety of regional products, the various rayons are now labeled in the dialect of the respective region.Attention to detailHowever, the new store concept also includes many small innovations that are not immediately obvious and make shopping more pleasant. The fridges are less tall so that the top shelf is easier to reach. The checkout area is open and bright and provides a better overview. Checkout 1 has a wider aisle and a lower checkout belt, which will be particularly appreciated by customers with baby carriages or wheelchairs. Self-checkout stations shorten waiting times. A bench made of FSC-certified Swiss oak invites customers to take a short breather. Proven features have been retained, such as the coffee grinder or the popular advertising wall, or optimized, such as the recycling stations.Impressions of the new store concept.Sustainability and progressThe new store concept also scores highly in terms of sustainability and technological innovation. In the self-service area for meat and charcuterie, the fridges are now fitted with glass doors. This not only looks modern, but also saves energy. The lighting in the store is 100% LED and the materials used for the construction meet the latest ecological standards.State-of-the-art technology and contemporary serviceThe latest generation of electronic price labels are only noticeable on closer inspection. They offer customers greater transparency and make it much easier for Coop employees to manage the labels. The blue pick-up stations right after the checkouts allow customers to easily collect their online orders from various Coop online stores. All new Coop sales outlets will be equipped with such pick-up stations in future. With 856 supermarkets, Coop has the greatest potential here in Switzerland.Over 40 converted supermarkets in the new yearThe conversion of Coop sales outlets to the store concept is an ongoing process. The target for 2017 has been defined: Over 40 stores will be converted to the new concept next year. The opening of the first megastore with the new concept is planned for late fall 2017 with the Seewenmarkt in Seewen, Canton Schwyz.