Eataly Distribuzione and Signa Retail have set up a joint venture to launch the Eataly food concept store in Germany, Austria and in German-speaking Switzerland.
According to the terms of the partnership, Eataly will be responsible for product selection, marketing and the training policy, while Signa will offer its long-time experience in the catering industry (with Le Buffet), its organisational model (Karstadt Warenhouse) and its specialisation in the field of real estate.
The first outlet in Germany, to be opened by the end of the year, will be a store in the historic Schrannenhalle building near the Viktualienmarkt in the centre of Munich. At least five more stores will be opened by 2021 in other locations.
According to Stephan Fanderi, Karstadt CEO, and manager of Signa Retail, the plan is also to develop some of the Eataly concepts in smaller stores, adding that they are considering the transformation of Le Buffet in Eataly stores.
To date, Eataly has set up 26 stores in the U.S., Brazil, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Turkey and Italy, and is currently one of the fastest-growing companies in the world in the catering industry and food and wine business.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
