1 / 28 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
1 / 28 Next Page
Page Background Brighton capitalizes on changing consumer demands

INSIDE

by Michelle Z. Askeland

Two retail trends are shaping how

the city of Brighton and Adams

County prepare for future develop-

ment and community growth while

honoring the agriculture backbone

that has defined much of the area’s

culture for generations. The trends –

the retail experience placing a greater

emphasis on buying and supporting

local in tandem with consumers’

increasing demand for healthier foods

– are naturally intertwined with local

agriculture.

Nationally, the local food business,

defined as food produced, processed

and distributed within a consumer’s

community, is booming. Local food

sales grew from $5 billion in 2008 to

$12 billion in 2014, and sales are pro-

jected to reach $20 billion by 2019,

according to the Urban Land Insti-

tute’s Cultivating Development report.

In addition, the U.S. organic industry

saw an 11 percent increase in sales

from 2014 to 2015, while the over-

all goods market saw just 3 percent

growth during the same period, the

ULI report stated. Further, 73 percent

of U.S. residents said they considered

access to fresh, healthy foods to be a

high or top priority, according to the

ULI’s America in 2015 survey.

In response to these consumer

demands, we’re starting to see the

food component become more of an

anchor for real estate development

projects. New development projects

that include some sort of food-based

businesses, such as restaurants, food

halls, grocery stores and farms, bring

value, create a sense of attachment to

the development and foster stronger

community ties, the ULI report stated.

Incorporating these retailers is

proving to be fruitful for other shop-

ping center tenants as well because

they generate traffic and increase the

amount of time customers spend at

a particular retail center, the ULI and

PwC’s report Emerging Trends in Real

Estate 2016 found. For these reasons,

nonfood-related retailers are begin-

ning to request locations near “chef-

driven” restaurants.

“We’re going to see a trend where

food is going to weave back into retail

in a major way,” said Jon Beckner with

Agriburbia Development. Due to mar-

ket disruption from online retailers,

brick-and-mortar stores are blending

in social components, often in the

form of entertainment and food, he

said. “I think local products are going

to be what’s driving the market in the

future.”

Brighton/Adams County

Thanks to the proximity of Adams

County, the Denver metro area enjoys

some of the shortest food miles – the

distance food travels from where it is

grown to where it is consumed – in

the country. Many city residents might

Dollar stores are expanding in a market that is seeing many similar-sized retailers struggle. Market highlight PAGE 6 Omnichannel shopping habits are forcing retailers to rethink the in-store experience. Design trends PAGE 18 Newk's Eatery's first Colorado locations com- pleted construction on time and on budget. Retailer perspective PAGE 12 Please see Page 24 November 2017

Jay Weise Photography

The area's agricultural backbone is evolving to further embrace retail trends. For example, in addition to farm production, the historic Bromley Farm in Brighton now provides tours, classes, seasonal

activities and event space.