The Seattle Times reports on the opening of Kai Market, described as a "small-format store Uwajimaya is opening in South Lake Union" that offers everything from "sashimi to a poke bar, packaged cold noodle salads to bento boxes."
According to the story, "Leaders of Uwajimaya, a family-owned and operated Asian supermarket chain that’s become an institution in the Seattle area, believe the smaller-format store means the company can expand to more areas without having as much of a cost commitment. At 5,500 square feet, Kai Market is about double the size of most convenience stores but much smaller than the 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of traditional Uwajimaya stores."
And if some customers feel a lack of confidence about cooking seafood, there will be "classes on cooking and related topics such as sake that Kai Market plans to hold in an adjoining meeting room in the building."
According to the story, "Leaders of Uwajimaya, a family-owned and operated Asian supermarket chain that’s become an institution in the Seattle area, believe the smaller-format store means the company can expand to more areas without having as much of a cost commitment. At 5,500 square feet, Kai Market is about double the size of most convenience stores but much smaller than the 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of traditional Uwajimaya stores."
And if some customers feel a lack of confidence about cooking seafood, there will be "classes on cooking and related topics such as sake that Kai Market plans to hold in an adjoining meeting room in the building."
- KC's View:
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Love this idea, especially the idea about educating consumers about how to use the product. Just goes to show that one does not need to have a big store to have big ideas.
