Where Cross-sector Synergy delivers more for Grocery

Since 2005 GDP has been providing high end Display Furniture, VM Equipment and high frequency Grocery Fixtures to brands and retailers in numerous locations around the world. Up until recently, GDP has mostly worked through main contractors and shop fitters. Whilst it values these strategic partnerships, the continuing success of GDP’s ‘direct-to-market’ business has proven its abilities as a serious full service provider to the UK retail sector. This evolution has also resulted in considerable cost savings for GDP’s growing client base.

As well as its experience within numerous locations of the world, GDP is active across a range of different sub-sectors of Retail. Their track record with Fashion, Leisure, Home-wares and FMCG is what makes the GDP team so versatile and inspirational when it comes to working with clients on new concepts. With a dedicated design team based at its UK head office that works directly with clients’ designers and creative agencies, GDP can interpret the most complicated or unrefined of concept briefs, turning them into reality. GDP’s designers deliver solutions using all of the latest technology including 3D modelling and rapid prototyping resulting in optimum in-store impact with maximum value and minimal re-work or time loss.

A recent example of the way GDP work together, in partnership, with the retailers store design team can be seen in the highly acclaimed Woolworths Food Store which opened recently in Nicolway Johannesburg. This store which in 2013 won an Award for Design and Innovation at the ARE Awards Ceremony in Chicago, is the first supermarket in the South African retailer’s chain. Tasked with bringing a ‘market place’ feel into the retail environment,and keeping sustainability foremost in mind, GDP set about transforming the revolutionary conceptual design into a Supermarket worthy of its flagship status.

This 3200 sq meter store is all about contemporary design and greater circulation space. The GDP team’s innovative use of raw materials, colours and visual merchandising aides all link together seamlessly to ensure that customers ‘enjoy the shopping experience’. From the Produce World, with its large open market style displays, one moves through charcoal coloured gondolas displaying grocery long life and on into the heart of the store. It is here that you find the in-store Bakery and Deli sections. Here GDP have created a welcoming area, one that encourages the shopper to sit down, relax and sample the daily treats on offer.

The wine shop and fresh flower areas have been meticulously designed and manufactured to give a sense of extravagance and abundance.Wooden tables are used for promotional and cross merchandising displays throughout the store. In addition, wooden chalkboards have been placed around the store to inform customers about current offers. In keeping with the growing focus on sustainability, the store also features quite a number of ‘green’ design elements. GDPs experience in this area meant that by using natural and sustainable materials including recycled and sustainable woods, mild steel, and cardboard bulkheads,this store is the ‘greenest’ in the chain. The whole store has a rustic and relaxed feel to ensure customers feel at home while they shop.

In Nicolway, GDP have helped deliver a supermarket with a difference – it has the efficiency of a supermarket with the atmosphere of a deli offering a truly enjoyable shopping experience. The brief from the client, when the journey began three years ago, was for GDP to deliver a store that was both modern and artisan. GDP exceeded this expectation on time and within budget.

Although the GDP team are used to taking responsibility for major projects such as that for Woolworths SA, they are happy to handle one-offs or a few specific elements of the total re-fit or rollout. All of the GDP team are passionate about Retail. They provide an honest and fresh approach to meeting the brief whilst exceeding clients’ expectations.

So basically… Retail Made Easy

GDP will be exhibiting at the Euroshop Trade Fair in Dusseldorf on 16th to 20th February 2014. You can meet the team on stand E19 in Hall 12.

GDP

Fran Nicholls

Tel: 0330 123 3553

Email: fran.nicholls@gdprojects.eu

www.gdprojects.eu