Food is the New Black

Hosted by journalist, cook and author of Margaret and Me, Kate Gibbs, the event featured presentations from industry experts including Fabian Rebelo, CEO of Australian Retail; Henry Greenacre Uber General Manager NSW; Francis Loughran, Founder and Managing Director of Future Food; Narelle Hutchins, Head of Place Strategy at AMP Capital Shopping Centres and Melissa Leong, food writer and television producer; all of whom collectively agreed that food brands need to adapt to the rapidly changing marketplace to ensure longevity.

AMP Capital Shopping Centres’ Head of Shopping Centre Marketing, Belinda Daly, said the Talking Shop event series is an amazing opportunity for industry leaders to share their experiences and secrets to success.

“We are focused on continual innovation in the retail space, and on providing our customers with outstanding experiences within our centres. This is why the Talking Shop workshop is a great platform for industry leaders to discuss their experiences with their peers and support them towards their road to success.”

“Today, we heard from a number of successful industry experts who discussed how it’s possible for food brands to be ‘fashionable’. We know consumer behaviour is changing, and shoppers are looking at our centres as community destinations that offer far more than just a place to pick up the groceries. Now is the time for retailers to take advantage of this opportunity to redefine their position within a crowded marketplace, and ensure the longevity of their brand.”

Key themes that emerged from the event include:

• Restaurants and food retailers have accounted for 45% of all shopping centre expansions in the USA over the past five years
• Food outlets’ gross lettable area grew by about 5% in Australian regional shopping centres in 2016
• Food and beverage sales in large regional centres are up by more than 3.6%, and sales in neighbourhood centres are up by 9.9%
• 82% of shoppers would spend as much or more if food experiences were designed to provide opportunities to relax and have time out.