Interstore | Schweitzer has implemented its Flexstore™ concept to design the new 2,000 square-metre BRIDGE market for retail giant Migros in Zurich, Switzerland.
The idea behind BRIDGE is to connect a diverse fresh food market with creative catering and a venue for events.
Located in a strategic hub, easily reached by train, BRIDGE attracts travellers as well as local foodies interested in sustainable purchases and a continuously changing offer of regional flavours.
With BRIDGE, Migros Zürich is opening a market with a unique name, and at the same time has created a lasting monument for the founder of Migros, Gottlieb Duttweiler, who considered himself a 'bridge builder'.
The store is distributed across two levels and skillfully balances the offering into a combination of fresh-food areas, catering, and dry goods.
The innovative store concept is an adaptation of Flexstore™, a unique food store construction principle invented by Interstore | Schweitzer, presented at EuroShop 2020 in an updated version.
For BRIDGE, apart from the permanent cooking stations, all other furnishing elements are 100% flexible, allowing retailers to modify the store layout quickly and cost-effectively.
This is suitable for pop-ups, seasonal events, and temporary leasing to external catering companies and producers.
The upper floor accommodates the Food Lab, a room that can be rented for private functions, company events, or cooking classes.
It also offers a mobile stage, suitable for concerts and movie nights.
Another highlight of the market is its focus on sustainability, with the interiors using only FSC certified materials.
All permanently installed furniture comply with SGNI (Swiss Sustainable Building Council) standards.
Bernhard Schweitzer, CEO and owner of Interstore | Schweitzer, stated, "Another decisive advantage of the 'Flexstore™' is the durability of the flexible furnishings, which are renewed every 8-10 years and can be endlessly re-utilised throughout its lifecycle. This saves time, costs and valuable resources."
The retailer has partnered with Swiss brands to create an overall offering sourced from 100% Swiss farming or production.
These include sustainably produced coffee from ViCafe, hand-made soap from Circle Soaps, vegan desserts from Lola's Vegan Kitchen, and bread from Baguettekönig Seri.
The private brands managed by BRIDGE, such as the Marktgrill, Bistro, and Bridge Bar, are seamlessly integrated into the overall concept.
Interstore teams in Zurich and Dusseldorf designed the entire store concept from space planning, in-store communication, packaging, employee apparel to corporate design, logo and brand name.
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