By Chad Dils
It was another great year at the International Dairy, Deli and Bakery Association show, but in case you missed it here is a little recap. I would say the theme of IDDBA17 was “The Store Experience.” Consumers can get almost anything they want to find online, so how do you get people back in stores? Provide an in-store experience which brings them in.
The Show and Sell area came alive this year by taking the concept of a traditional full service cheese island and transforming it into a full service Cheese Pub. Complete with ordering stations, bar stools and creative merchandising techniques, the consumer is provided a “choose your own adventure” in the cheese world. The Pub concept includes grab-and-go options for shoppers on the run, or they can sit at the bar for a more intimate experience. The cheese cube cones are a great way to engage millennial snackers with either comfort mixes or gourmet taste.
Create Atmosphere with a Grocerant or an Old Time Bakery
Another highlight was the Boom Kitchen or IDDBA’s take on an in-store grocerant. Sit down in a cozy patio setting under reused pallet light fixtures, and dine in a full service restaurant. Lower the level of the lights, add a small staff with minimal expense you can turn a typical dining area into a true experience for the shopper. At IDDBA, the chefs were fantastic and so was the octopus taco!
