Swiss Farms Opens Inaugural Franchise Store
The location, located at 6 South White Horse Pike in Somerdale, N.J., is also Swiss Farms’ first foray into the Garden State. “We plan to open two additional Swiss Farms stores in Camden County over the next 24 month, establishing more critical mass in our Jersey-side beachhead," said Betz.
Added Paul Friel, CEO of Broomall, Pa.-based Swiss Farms, “The store, which boasts a dramatic, sleek, award-winning architectural design and iconic fresh-farm imagery, is built for fast service and selection, and is well positioned against area supermarkets, with drive-through convenience plus ‘Supermarket Prices without the Supermarket Hassles.”
The store was built by Partners, William & Tony Santora who own & operate
A&E Construction Inc. a construction management firm in the Philadelphia area, built the Somerdale store, as well as the latest Swiss Farms corporate prototype store in Ridley Park, Pa, which opened in November 2009 and served as the model for the Somerdale location.
“The Somerdale store embodies a list of elements that capture our joint vision of a world class drive-through,” noted Rocco Fiorentino, president of Swiss Farms Franchising. At 1,600 square feet, the location is nearly double the size of many current Swiss Farms stores. For faster service, there are two service doors on each side, and a bypass lane on each side enables a customer whose order is completed before before the car in front him or her to drive by that care.
When shoppers pull up to the Somerdale store, they see a structure resembling a glasshouse: floor-to-ceiling glass walls on three sides, rising vertically 14 feet for optimal visibility. Custom racking provides prominent product exposure, including refrigerated dairy and produce display cases. The result is that the store's interior shows offerings and even tagging sale prices to customers in their cars.
For increased visibility merchandising, the Somerdale location has eight 46-inch LCD screens and a large LED pylon sign that can be easily seen from the street. The entire system is integrated into a meteorological site linking offers to the weather, so appropriate items are spotlighted according to whether it’s hot or cold outside. The message also changes by day part, promoting breakfast in the morning and dinner options in the evening. “With our digital signage, we have maximum flexibility in targeting our promotions, and we don't kill a tree in the process,” said Swiss Farms franchise development director. “This is very green.”
Store offerings include fresh baked rotisserie chicken with sides of baked potatoes and veggies for a complete meal; a fresh bakery featuring fresh artisanal loaves, muffins and cookies; an expanded line of produce; and a line of fresh Swiss Farms dinners.
Despite all of the cutting-edge trappings, Swiss Farms still depends on good, old-fashioned personalized customer service to keep customers coming back. “This is a high-touch business,” explains franchisee Betz. “And with that, Swiss Farms enjoys extreme customer loyalty. Our store associates are part of the secret sauce that has given Swiss Farms an unusually strong bond with its customers. I know -- I grew up around Swiss Farms as a kid, where they rule in Delaware County, Pa. We are now using technology and superior store design to make the Swiss Farms customer experience more efficient and delightful. But I'm not stopping there. Our store associates will always be up front and center, providing a world-class customer service experience. That’s our calling card.”
For more information on Swiss Farms’ franchising program, which aims to establish its drive-through concept throughout the United States, with an emphasis on multiunit franchisees, visit http://swissfarms.com/franchising.
Drive-through grocer Swiss Farms Stores has opened its first franchise store, with veteran Starbucks and Auntie Anne's franchisee John Betz at the helm. Betz is the recipient of the 2010 IFA Franchisee of the Year award.
The location, located at 6 South White Horse Pike in Somerdale, N.J., is also Swiss Farms’ first foray into the Garden State. “We plan to open two additional Swiss Farms stores in Camden County over the next 24 month, establishing more critical mass in our Jersey-side beachhead," said Betz.
Added Paul Friel, CEO of Broomall, Pa.-based Swiss Farms, “The store, which boasts a dramatic, sleek, award-winning architectural design and iconic fresh-farm imagery, is built for fast service and selection, and is well positioned against area supermarkets, with drive-through convenience plus ‘Supermarket Prices without the Supermarket Hassles.”
A&E Construction Inc. a construction management firm in the Philadelphia area, built the Somerdale store, as well as the latest Swiss Farms corporate prototype store in Ridley Park, Pa, which opened in November 2009 and served as the model for the Somerdale location.
“The Somerdale store embodies a list of elements that capture our joint vision of a world class drive-through,” noted Rocco Fiorentino, president of Swiss Farms Franchising. At 1,600 square feet, the location is nearly double the size of many current Swiss Farms stores. For faster service, there are two service doors on each side, and a bypass lane on each side enables a customer whose order is completed before before the car in front him or her to drive by that care.
When shoppers pull up to the Somerdale store, they see a structure resembling a glasshouse: floor-to-ceiling glass walls on three sides, rising vertically 14 feet for optimal visibility. Custom racking provides prominent product exposure, including refrigerated dairy and produce display cases. The result is that the store's interior shows offerings and even tagging sale prices to customers in their cars.
For increased visibility merchandising, the Somerdale location has eight 46-inch LCD screens and a large LED pylon sign that can be easily seen from the street. The entire system is integrated into a meteorological site linking offers to the weather, so appropriate items are spotlighted according to whether it’s hot or cold outside. The message also changes by day part, promoting breakfast in the morning and dinner options in the evening. “With our digital signage, we have maximum flexibility in targeting our promotions, and we don't kill a tree in the process,” said Swiss Farms franchise development director. “This is very green.”
Store offerings include fresh baked rotisserie chicken with sides of baked potatoes and veggies for a complete meal; a fresh bakery featuring fresh artisanal loaves, muffins and cookies; an expanded line of produce; and a line of fresh Swiss Farms dinners.
Despite all of the cutting-edge trappings, Swiss Farms still depends on good, old-fashioned personalized customer service to keep customers coming back. “This is a high-touch business,” explains franchisee Betz. “And with that, Swiss Farms enjoys extreme customer loyalty. Our store associates are part of the secret sauce that has given Swiss Farms an unusually strong bond with its customers. I know -- I grew up around Swiss Farms as a kid, where they rule in Delaware County, Pa. We are now using technology and superior store design to make the Swiss Farms customer experience more efficient and delightful. But I'm not stopping there. Our store associates will always be up front and center, providing a world-class customer service experience. That’s our calling card.”
For more information on Swiss Farms’ franchising program, which aims to establish its drive-through concept throughout the United States, with an emphasis on multiunit franchisees, visit http://swissfarms.com/franchising.