Somebody said recently that if you want to see innovation in retail go to a supermarket.

Somebody said recently that if you want to see innovation in retail go to a supermarket. In days gone by they were seen as slab-sided temples of commerce where shoppers were fed in at one end, processed and then emerged at the other laden with the retailer’s merchandise. Supermarkets almost defined the anti-experience. They were places to be endured, rather than enjoyed. However, visit almost any of the big four’s outlets these days and it is apparent that food retailers have joined what is sometimes referred to as ‘the experience economy’.

The modern supermarket is all about giving shoppers something to look at, ponder and maybe even appreciate. The current success of Aldi and Waitrose may be examples of market polarisation in this sector, but the big mid-market players reach up to the better-end with upscale private-label offers, while reaching down towards the discounters with no-frills products. Being all things to all people may be possible in supermarket world.

Supermarkets are constantly trying new things. In Paris, Carrefour is trying out a Bio corner shop aimed at putting organic produce within everyone’s reach. As well as offering the merchandise, it looks the part - and it takes only a small leap of the imagination to see it being rolled out. At the other end of the scale, Tesco’s new store in Watford shows that even the largest of spaces can be made more customer-friendly and even work as lifestyle destinations with family restaurants and artisanal cafes.

Finally, we’ve been to Denmark to take a look at SuperBrugsen, the better end of the Danish Co-op.

There are lessons to be learned from this one - not least that small can be beautiful in food retail. We’ve also had a look at another store of Danish origin: Tiger, which is prowling around London. Happy reading.