News and Views
2026 Supermarket Design Trends: Innovation and Shopper Experience in Europe
Increase basket sizes by 10-25% with tailored visual merchandising and precision category zoning
from CampbellRigg experts. We benchmark Kavanagh’s London, SSG Food Market Seoul, and
Tesco Welshpool, three best-in-class examples of branding and store design trends
shaping the future of convenience, supermarket, and hypermarket retail.
(Projects attributed to: Rigney Forge, Landini Associates and CampbellRigg)
Design Trends: Innovation and Shopper Experience
The Problem:
Supermarkets face a critical inflection point. Retailers such as Albert Heijn, Carrefour, Mercadona, the Schwarz Group, SSG Food Maket and Tesco must adapt to shifting shopper values, regional preferences, and modern lifestyles. Outdated store layouts, poor zoning, and uninspired design aesthetics risk weakening brand relevance, shortening dwell time, and reducing sales conversion. As expectations for sustainability, convenience, and experience-driven retail grow, many traditional formats are struggling to stay competitive and emotionally engaging.
Supermarkets face a critical inflection point. Retailers such as Albert Heijn, Carrefour, Mercadona, the Schwarz Group, SSG Food Maket and Tesco must adapt to shifting shopper values, regional preferences, and modern lifestyles. Outdated store layouts, poor zoning, and uninspired design aesthetics risk weakening brand relevance, shortening dwell time, and reducing sales conversion. As expectations for sustainability, convenience, and experience-driven retail grow, many traditional formats are struggling to stay competitive and emotionally engaging.
The Answer:
Forward-thinking retailers are implementing innovative supermarket design strategies for 2026, aligning brand identity, space planning, and shopper experience. Multi-format stores are being optimised for urban supermarkets, while sustainable design and digital integration become core business drivers. Through eco-conscious materials, intuitive customer journeys, lifestyle zones, and connected retail technology, supermarkets are being transformed into high-performance, experience-led environments. These innovation-led designs enhance shopper flow, loyalty, and brand strength, future-proofing European food retail for growth, differentiation, and long-term commercial success.
Forward-thinking retailers are implementing innovative supermarket design strategies for 2026, aligning brand identity, space planning, and shopper experience. Multi-format stores are being optimised for urban supermarkets, while sustainable design and digital integration become core business drivers. Through eco-conscious materials, intuitive customer journeys, lifestyle zones, and connected retail technology, supermarkets are being transformed into high-performance, experience-led environments. These innovation-led designs enhance shopper flow, loyalty, and brand strength, future-proofing European food retail for growth, differentiation, and long-term commercial success.
The Challenge:
As food retail evolves, 2026 represents a transformational moment for supermarket design, branding, and shopper experience. Leading retailers need to redefine multi-store-formats around three powerful inflection points: sustainability, digital integration, and human-centric design.
As food retail evolves, 2026 represents a transformational moment for supermarket design, branding, and shopper experience. Leading retailers need to redefine multi-store-formats around three powerful inflection points: sustainability, digital integration, and human-centric design.
Modern supermarket design is moving beyond efficiency toward immersive, emotionally engaging spaces that express brand identity and inspire shopper loyalty. Retailers are investing in flexible, modular layouts tailored to local demographics and urban retail environments, combining digital technology, mobile interaction, and data-driven merchandising to create seamless shopping journeys.
Sustainability is now central to store innovation—featuring energy-efficient systems, circular materials, refill stations, and waste reduction strategies that meet ESG goals and consumer expectations. Meanwhile, fresh food theatre, sensory design, and intuitive wayfinding are redefining in-store engagement and driving emotional connection.
These 2026 supermarket design innovations position Europe’s leading retailers for stronger brand differentiation, increased profitability, and sustained shopper relevance in a rapidly changing retail landscape..
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through to rollout, delivering consistent, ROI-driven transformations.
Access proven expertise. Campbell Rigg delivers full-service retail refurbishment from strategy
through to rollout, delivering consistent, ROI-driven transformations.
through to rollout, delivering consistent, ROI-driven transformations.
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excellent work in a very challenging retail environment."
Carlos Criado-Perez Chief Executive, Safeway
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expectations and omnichannel integration.
CampbellRigg overhauled Tesco supermarket store branding, interor desisn and visual merchandising
in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, delivering sales uplifts and basket growth.
in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, delivering sales uplifts and basket growth.
Partner with CampbellRigg to unlock 15% to 30% sales uplifts by using shopper-centric
layouts and optimized grocery design strategies.
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Our pricing structure is highly competitive, offering exceptional
value without compromising on quality or creativity.
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project is delivered on time and to the highest standards.
We move fast. From concept to implementation, our agile team ensures your
project is delivered on time and to the highest standards.
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Our team brings together seasoned brand strategists, architects, interior designers, and graphic designers, collaborating to create seamless, end-to-end brand environments.
Our team brings together seasoned brand strategists, architects, interior designers, and graphic designers, collaborating to create seamless, end-to-end brand environments.
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With successful projects delivered across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we combine
international experience with local market understanding.
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Whether it's a flagship branch or a network of micro-branches, we manage
and execute projects of all sizes, efficiently and effectively.
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From retail banking to luxury private client lounges, our designs drive engagement,
elevate customer experience, and deliver measurable commercial results.
From retail banking to luxury private client lounges, our designs drive engagement,
elevate customer experience, and deliver measurable commercial results.
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From rebranding and marketing campaigns to spatial design and
rollout, we provide an integrated service tailored to your goals.
From rebranding and marketing campaigns to spatial design and
rollout, we provide an integrated service tailored to your goals.
