Sushi Sushi, EARL Canteen join Coles' first restaurant-supermarket hybrid
The concept looks to cater to time-poor consumers.
Sushi Sushi and EARL Canteen has partnered with Coles to join its first restaurant-supermarket hybrid concept.
Taking residency at Coles’ revamped Tooronga supermarket in Melbourne, EARL staff will be onsite in their open-plan kitchen preparing their sandwiches, salads and sweets.
The chain is also showcasing its Coles-exclusive made-to-order Wholebowls concept, featuring gluten-free, low-carb combinations including their free-range crisp skin pork belly, available in more than 30 possible combinations. EARL will also feature Coles ingredients such as flatbreads to prepare their breakfast burritos.
"EARL is excited to redesign and expand its Wholebowl range to offer true flexibility for all tastes. We know EARL regulars and new customers alike will love the new options,” co-founder Jackie Middleton said. “We think this concept is a game-changer - as is excellent coffee inside a supermarket – we’re not sure which Melburnians will love more."
Sushi Sushi, meanwhile, is expected to feature new varieties of ‘seaweed-less’ sushi and their signature sushi sandwiches.
“Sushi Sushi and Coles have created a ‘store in store’ concept like no other," Sushi Sushi general manager for commercial partnerships Gavan Meadows said. “We believe this partnership represents strong brand alignment and our core business values being constant innovation, great customer experience and a premium product offering."
Coles says the move is part of its strategy to tailor stores to increasing consumer demand for convenience, with customer research finding 50% shoppers not having time to cook from scratch, whilst 33% are unable to say what they are having for dinner by 5pm that day.
“Our new food hall concept is all about making life easier for our customers by solving the problem of what to eat – for everyone, any time of the day...we’re excited to work with the best in the business for premium quality, quick and easy meal solutions that appeal to our urban and time-poor customers in Hawthorn East and surrounds," Coles head of convenience Louis Eggar said.
