EAT. has announced the opening of an ambitious new concept store at Heathrow’s Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal in June 2014. The group fought off intense competition to win a bid for its ambitious new concept store following an average of 5 bids per outlet and over 300 bids in total.
The new 4,200 square foot store, being built with an investment of £1m, has been designed to put the loved and renowned EAT. menu centre-stage to an international audience. It will be a unique store in the EAT. estate, where the experience has been tailored to ensure that a diverse customer audience will meet with welcoming service, a relaxing environment and great food.
At the heart of the store design is the kitchen, where customers can see the hot food menu being prepared and served. The market place entrance also offers the broad selection of cold food, such as sandwiches and salads, in addition to the freshly baked patisserie and cookies that will be served straight from the kitchen oven.
The space has been zoned, to ensure areas for people with different needs, such as individual travellers, groups and families either in a hurry, or with time to sit down and relax. The latest digital technology has been used to enhance and support the food experience, through elements such as self-service tills, multilingual information points and digital menu boards that change according to the menu for the day, time of day or season. Wrap around screens have also been installed in some of the booths, to transport customers in those spaces to different places, seasons and events from the comfort of their seats whilst enjoying their food.
Adrian Johnson, EAT. Chief Executive, said, 'We are very excited to bring to our Terminal 2 store a concept that we see being the vision for the future of good food-to-go. In developing new ideas, we worked closely with the team at Heathrow to ensure that our service and food offer would set a new standard, both within transit and the food market place. We are confident that first time visitors, repeat customers and Heathrow staff alike will find the same great EAT. menu they expect in a store that is exciting and different to anything they’ve seen before.'
Muriel Zingraff-Shariff, Heathrow’s retail director said, 'EAT.’s popularity with passengers at Heathrow already shows that their menu resonates strongly with our international customers. Terminal 2 will be their largest outlet so far, offering freshly prepared meals together with digital touchpoints designed to help make the most of busy passenger's time.'