LOUISVILLE, Ky. --Thorntons Inc. has launched 28 new-concept convenience stores in the Louisville, Ky., market that focus more on food. "These stores redefine convenience and offer guests a distinctly elevated experience with quality food that is deliciously fresh and effortlessly fast, all within a real kitchen setting," the company said.
Real Kitchen. Real Food. is the Fresh Food program the company has rolled out at select Thorntons stores throughout Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.
Up to 50% of the store’s footprint is devoted to food space, a spokesperson told Louisville Business First.
“We have real kitchens with real cooks making real food, right in our stores,” the company said in a promotional video (see below).
New foodservice options include hand-rolled breakfast burritos, freshly made pizza sticks and soft pretzels. The grab-and-go concept allows guests to get in and get out in an average of three minutes.
The chain is also launching a new marketing campaign, called "Real Kitchen. Real Food." to promote the new stores. That campaign will feature a series of TV, digital media and radio spots, social media content--including Snapchat filters, geo-targeted to Real Kitchen. Real Food. locations--and giveaways and grand-opening events at select stores.
“We believe you should be able to get quality, quantity and convenience, all in one place,” said Tony Harris, president of Thorntons. “That’s why we’re going beyond gas and changing the perception of what convenience stores have to offer.”
“Real is powerful,” said Harris. “To us, real means honest, trustworthy and authentic. That’s what makes our new store concept different than any others in the region, and that’s what drove the idea behind Real Kitchen. Real Food.”
The company is now planning to roll that design out to the rest of its stores, according to Louisville Business First.
Based in Louisville, Thorntons operates 183 convenience stores that provide food, beverages and fuel in six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida.
Real Kitchen. Real Food. Thorntons from Scoppechio on Vimeo.
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