Retail Symposium

The hospitality industry and retail are growing ever closer together. There are great opportunities when both sectors inspire each other: hospitality offers experience and hospitality, retail excels in efficiency and scale. Those who combine these strengths wisely create strong, future-proof retail concepts.

Tomorrow's supermarket will not only be about price and efficiency, but also about experience, meaning and innovation. Five hospitality concepts from Utrecht show where the opportunities lie: from authentic heritage to Instagram-worthy snacks and personalised drinks. Those who respond to these trends now will win over tomorrow's consumers.

Coffee is no longer just about convenience, but about enjoyment. This presents a huge opportunity for supermarkets to combine experience and quality. Through storytelling, smart shelf presentation and collaboration with local baristas, supermarkets can strategically use coffee as a distinctive product group.

The supermarket of the future will not only sell products, but also experiences. According to retail developer Rober Delver, the strength lies in the smart “retailing” of hospitality inspiration. By focusing on experience and convenience, the shop will change from a place you have to be to a place you like to visit.

Hospitality is not a “soft issue”, but hard business. According to Ilse Brommersma, successful retail is not only about efficiency, but also about connection and experience. Those who see customers as guests and invest in their people create 9-plus experiences that bind customers. The hospitality industry shows how this works, and there is a huge opportunity for retailers here.