Today I am visiting the newest Bristol Farms store - christened Bristol Farms Newfound Market - in Irvine, California, which I think is a remarkable example of how a traditional food retailer can redefine its space. Though a variety of departments - including a series of QSRs, as well as a full-service Italian restaurant (that makes a remarkable pizza, plus a meatball with polenta to kill for) - Bristol Farms has expanded its purview - going beyond being just a grocer, and embracing the larger goal of feeding people. That's not just a semantic difference, I think; it is about reshaping the relationship between the store and the shopper in way that can have long-range implications. Plus, this is just a terrific retailing experience!
Bonus pics and video below…
