Retail bakeries can learn valuable lessons from innovations at the newest supermarkets unveiled by leading grocery chains across the nation. The newest stores are smaller and packed with more features than ever.

The Fresh Market, Inc. recently opened its newest store in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, marking the first store for the specialty food retailer in the city and its 48th in Florida. The new 24,034 square-foot store aims to delight the community with a curated shopping journey.

Among its many features, the new store in Lakewood Ranch offers hot and fresh pizza, a coffee café bar, a new bakery walk-around case, and fresh breakfast and pastry options in the coffee area along with fresh smoothies.

Inside and covered outside seating areas enable guests to enjoy coffee, meals and meet ups with friends.

“Our new store in Lakewood Ranch offers more than just fresh food; it's a place to grab a coffee with friends, enjoy a slice of Hot & Fresh pizza, or try a new smoothie,” said Jason Potter, chief executive officer. “With a full-service coffee station and a variety of ready-to-eat options, The Fresh Market is a go-to for quick bites, dinner solutions and everyday occasions.

Embracing the community

To celebrate the grand opening, the event featured a “bread breaking” ceremony, vendor sampling, specialty presentations, giveaways, and live music performed by award-winning international concert cellist Steve Kramer, as well as a check presentation to Feeding Tampa Bay.

Nearly 1 million people in West Central Florida face food insecurity, with 1 in 6 adults and 1 in 4 children lacking consistent access to nutritious meals. To commemorate its growing partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay, a vital organization working to alleviate hunger in the region, The Fresh Market presented a check for $2,000. This contribution underscores The Fresh Market's commitment to supporting the communities it serves through local Feeding America® food bank partners.

The Lakewood Ranch location is the ninth Fresh Market store to provide ongoing weekly food donations to Feeding Tampa Bay, bolstering the Food Bank's efforts to feed those facing hunger in collaboration with its network of more than 400 partners across the area.

Rewarding loyalty

Guests can sign up and start saving with The Fresh Market’s The Ultimate Loyalty Experience that’s free to join. Members of the program can take advantage of automatically loaded and curated member-only loyalty offers, digital coupons and “The Club Hub” purchase frequency programs, which allow guests to earn free items or dollars off favorite items (for example, cheese and coffee clubs), and a free slice of The Ultimate Birthday Cake during the member’s birthday month.

Since 1982, The Fresh Market, Inc. has helped guests make eating extraordinary with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients and delicious food for any occasion. The Fresh Market currently operates 160 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence.

Authentic pizza

In addition, The Fresh Market invites pizza enthusiasts to experience the culinary delight of its new authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, which has already won in a blind taste test against America’s biggest pizza chain.

The Fresh Market pizzas feature three primary ingredients that contribute to their unique taste and texture. The mozzarella cheese, sourced from Belgioioso, is celebrated for its exquisite texture and delicately clean flavor, a testament to the time-honored Italian cheesemaking traditions. The sauce, a crucial component, owes its rich and authentic flavor to the Italian tomatoes, grown in the fertile volcanic soils near Mt. Vesuvius, subtly seasoned with salt. Completing the foundation is the crust, crafted from the highly esteemed Neapolitan flour, which ensures a light yet crisply lavish base, reflecting centuries of Italian baking expertise.