Consorzio Europa, a partner of D.IT-Distribuzione Italiana, has announced that it has opened its first proximity store Sigusta Sigma in Milan.
The store has been designed in collaboration Allways, a company specialising in retail design and in-store communications, the company added.
The retailer analysed consumer trends and competition in the Italian retail market in association with retail consultancy Kiki-Lab before venturing into proximity stores.
The proximity format, which gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, offers customers comfort and service in the form of eat-in or take away breakfast, lunch, and beverage items as well as grocery items.
Store Highlights
The new store, spread across an area of 190 square meters, features an indoor dining area equipped with Wi-Fi.
The product assortment comprises approximately 3,500 references, of which 20% are private-label (15% mainstream and 5% special lines).
The store offers home delivery and plans to add an outdoor dining area.
The retailer plans to open a second store in Milan by the end of July.
Consorzio Europa operates more than 250 stores in the Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, Veneto and Tuscany regions, with 60% of its outlets having a sales area of around 400 square meters each.
D.IT-Distribuzione Italiana is a multi-banner and multi-brand cooperative that runs more than 1,200 stores in 17 regions of Italy.
In 2019, D.IT-Distribuzione Italiana generated a turnover of around €3 billion.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.