'Store Formats'

by Lonnie J McQuirter 10-12 minute read time. Feel free to skip to the tl;dr section near the end for quick takeaways. I was holding something small in my hand … read

Reitan Convenience, a leading retailer in the Nordics and Baltics, is launching a functional coffee menu across its Caffeine coffee shop chain at the end of February. Targeting the global … read

With our search for the ‘Smartest Store in the World’ 2026 well underway – Dan Munford, Insight Research & GC CEO, recently visited 7-Eleven Hong Kong, and was hosted by … read

MOL Group, the international oil, gas, petrochemicals and retail company headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, is accelerating its consumer services strategy to become a digitally-driven retailer and integrated mobility services provider … read

Last week I had the chance to see the latest thinking from bp and Marks & Spencer, probably the most successful service station partnership in the world. Representatives from our … read

Hong Kong is rebuilding and 7-Eleven is helping lead the charge. On a recent visit to 7-Eleven in Hong Kong, I was hosted by Yoep Man, CEO of 7-Eleven for … read

The opening of the UK Co-op Group’s first ‘micro-store’ on the high street of a leafy Birmingham suburb called Solihull has captured the imagination of retailers in the UK. I … read

As global food retail continues to evolve, convenience operators are navigating a complex terrain shaped by shifting shopper behaviours, technological transformation, and economic pressures. At the heart of this dynamic … read

“Danish foodtech startup begins global rollout at fuel stations” This autumn, Danish foodtech company Noahs enters the Belux region through a groundbreaking partnership with Q8 — launching their multi-brand concept … read

Danish service station operator Q8 is taking the restaurant industry head on with its new highway location launched in partnership with Noahs Global. Opened in Korsør, Denmark, the site integrates … read

Rutter’s, the Pennsylvania-based convenience chain, is launching a new bar and lounge concept, designed to give customers more reasons to visit its stores…and stay longer! Branded as 1747 Bar and … read

This is a total reset to the way we think about foodservice in convenience retail, it’s worth setting aside the time to watch this episode of The Future of Convenience … read

Roasting Plant, the speciality coffee shop chain, is on a roll. The US and UK-based business, which has been dubbed the “Willy Wonka” of coffee is poised to expand to … read

One of the curses of a life in retail is the compulsion to assess any store you walk into – especially your own.  As a store developer, I will most … read

Frank Gleeson joins hosts Nick Scherzer and Dan Munford in this episode of the Future of Convenience podcast. They unveil the winners of ‘The Best EV Hub in the World‘ … read

“To eat well in England you should have breakfast three times a day.” Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) For the last few months I’ve been working in London for 3 days a … read

Insight Research can’t wait to welcome industry friends to London – which is definitely back as one of the outstanding global destinations for any retailer seeking new ideas. If you … read

In a University College Dublin (UCD) Business Impact podcast, double UCD Business alumnus in BComm and MBA Joe Barrett discusses building the Applegreen retail empire and charting the journey from … read

Kavanagh’s Belsize Park is a flagship location in every sense of the word. Trading for almost a year, the retailer has been blown away by the customer reaction with sales … read

Humdinner, the drive-thru technology company, which offers automated multiple-lane drive-thru and curbside designs, including a contactless, no-touch system for QSRs, fast casual restaurants, and ghost kitchens, is raising the bar … read

Are declining city centres a bigger challenge for our industry than inflation? What’s the latest city centre retailer feeling on this and what can they do to maximise returns with … read