# Authentic Gourmet Grocers This Specialty Supermarket Boasts Sophisticated Rustic Branding By Rebecca Byers | Published 2015-04-20 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/specialty-supermarket References: [retaildesignblog.net](http://retaildesignblog.net/2015/01/30/michael-angelos-specialty-food-store-by-watt-international-toronto-canada/) & [aredesignawards](http://aredesignawards.com/award_winner_detail.cfm?key=61&key2=Michael) This upscale specialty supermarket is a stunning tribute to quality ingredients and expert craftsmanship. The Michel Angelo's store located just outside of Toronto reinvigorates the [gourmet grocer experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldi-charcuterie-chalet) by infusing it with authenticity and symbols of tradition. The interior design of the store is characterized by stunning [culinary-inspired installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loacker-galaxy), like a bakery wall with delicately organized rolling pins or a butcher's board covered in richly detailed sketches of an animal. The new space also does a lot to play up the family-owned grocery brand's rich 40-year history, with black-and-white images from earlier days also lining the walls. In an attempt to completely reinvent the [specialty food store experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waitrose-home-of-food-lovers), this specialty supermarket features a bevy of in-store chefs ready to offer tips or inspiration. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Upscale Specialty Supermarkets:** A trend of designing and curating a grocery store experience that is visually appealing, authentic to the brand's history, and offers unique culinary installations. - **Authentic Branding:** An emphasis on storytelling, culture, and tradition in branding to make the customer feel connected to the product and the business. - **In-store Chef Services:** A trend of offering in-store chef services to provide customers with expert advice or inspiration for cooking and meal preparation. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Specialty Supermarkets:** Specialty supermarkets can now compete with larger chain stores by creating a unique experience for their customers through authentic branding, interior design and in-store chef services. - **Interior Design Services:** With the trend in designing upscale supermarkets that feature culinary-inspired installations and offer the customer a visual and authentic shopping experience, interior design services are now able to explore the retail sector. - **Retail Technology:** The adoption of retail technology, such as AI for food preparation or immersive displays, can help to create an authentic in-store experience for customers while still maintaining efficiency and ease of shopping. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [High-End Specialty Food Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/specialty-food-stores.md) - [Gallery-Style Grocers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meadow-lane.md) - [Global Food Retail Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supermarket-italy.md) - [Boutique-Style Nut Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dried-fruits-and-nuts.md) - [Authentic Butcher Grocers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/authentic-butcher.md) - [Boutique Grocery Makeovers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/womens-clothing-boutique.md) - [Italian Food Markets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/italian-deli-co.md) - [High-End Gilded Spice Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mccormick-gourmet-collection.md) - [Immersive Cultural Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superfresh.md)