Giant Eagle Tests In-Store Casual Restaurants in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH - Regional supermarket chain Giant Eagle Inc. is set to launch redesigned "Kitchens" quick-casual restaurants at two of its Pittsburgh-area stores on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The company, which was recently named as Progressive Grocer's "Retailer of the Year" and was profiled in the magazine's December issue, is intensifying its efforts to bring back customers who are too busy to cook but don't want fast food.
"Basically we want to be a stand-alone restaurant that happens to be in the grocery store," said Lou Coppola, who started about 10 months ago in his post as director of prepared foods for the region's dominant supermarket chain. Coppola has worked for food service companies such as Aramark and Sodexho Marriott.
Giant Eagle said it will consider expanding the concept in new or remodeled stores if the prototypes do well.
Giant Eagle, which also has worked out a franchise deal with Starbucks, said it might work out similar arrangements with other franchisers if it can find the right matches.
To read more about Giant Eagle in Progressive Grocer's December issue, click here:
http://www.progressivegrocer.com/progressivegrocer/magazine/index.jsp
The company, which was recently named as Progressive Grocer's "Retailer of the Year" and was profiled in the magazine's December issue, is intensifying its efforts to bring back customers who are too busy to cook but don't want fast food.
"Basically we want to be a stand-alone restaurant that happens to be in the grocery store," said Lou Coppola, who started about 10 months ago in his post as director of prepared foods for the region's dominant supermarket chain. Coppola has worked for food service companies such as Aramark and Sodexho Marriott.
Giant Eagle said it will consider expanding the concept in new or remodeled stores if the prototypes do well.
Giant Eagle, which also has worked out a franchise deal with Starbucks, said it might work out similar arrangements with other franchisers if it can find the right matches.
To read more about Giant Eagle in Progressive Grocer's December issue, click here:
http://www.progressivegrocer.com/progressivegrocer/magazine/index.jsp