A new ShopRite in South Plainfield will open to the public on Wednesday.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD --A new 80,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket opens to customers for the first time Wednesday in the Gold Acres Shopping Center in South Plainfield.
ShopRite officials gave a sneak-preview tour Tuesday to media and local officials to tout the latest offerings in grocery store technology and service. Here's a rundown of what shoppers can expect:
1. Personalized shopping
To deal with the increasing competition from online retailers, ShopRite is looking to offer customers service they can't get online. The company believes personalized shopping will bring customers to its new store, offering services like recommendations of various food items from expert staff in a variety of departments to employees getting to know their customers personally, learning the things the shoppers like and don't like.
2. Chef-taught cooking classes in the store's culinary workshop
In-store cooking classes run by a chef in the culinary workshop will be offered for free after customers sign-up. It will feature daily demonstrations of recipes, a question and answer period, and anything customers would like to learn from a chef.
3. Specialty-cigar shop
The store features a specialty cigar shop with a wide selection of cigars from all over the world. With the United States relaxing Cuban embargo restrictions, the company also says it is keeping a diligent eye on when it can bring Cuban cigars to the store. According to Rick Saker, vice president of operations at Saker ShopRites, if and when Cuban cigars become available, the ShopRite will be quick to bring them to their customers.
4. Nutrition center
The store will feature two full-time registered dietitians who will be available to answer any questions about nutrition or a nutritional item that a shopper might have.
5. A friend to vegans
The nutrition center features an array of organic and gluten-free foods. Supplying a huge variety of choices for vegetarians and vegans is a high priority of the store, officials said.
6. Specialty cheeses from around the world
The cheeses are separated by country. There is also a cheese specialist stationed behind the counter to help customers by recommending various cheeses to go with a certain wine or meal.
According to Saker, this is an example of the company's goal to "bring an experience to store level."
7. A staff of 300
The store will have a staff of 300 employees with an emphasis on providing personal attention to customers' questions and needs.
8. Environmentally-friendly technology
The store is outfitted with latest energy-saving including a process in which the store's cooling water is recycled and pumped underneath the flooring of the refrigeration aisle, heating the floors to keep things warm without compromising the products in the freezers.
The store uses 70 percent less refrigeration energy and uses "night curtains" that cover refrigerated products at closing, preventing energy from slipping out into the store. Other energy-efficient technology includes the glass doors on the dairy and freezer cases, and the store's LED and T-8 lighting.
9. ShopRite from Home(r) service
ShopRite Home(r) is the store's online shopping service in which associates personally shop customers' online grocery orders that customers can pick up at the store or have them delivered to their residence.
The Home service, according to Saker, is where employees will again take personalized service seriously -- remembering customers, learning what they like and don't like, so that eventually they can recommend things they think their regular shoppers might enjoy.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.