Exploring three gourmet grocery stores across Mumbai and what makes them unique

Even with omnichannel and ecommerce the new gourmet store formats are highly innovative with their gastronomic offerings for the customer looking for an experience beyond low prices and good products Being on top of changing consumer habits these stores often double up as workshop spaces cafeacutes and connoisseursrsquo corners for the growing number of gourmands in the cityStaples for SoBorsquos luxeNuts and SeedsA pioneer of sorts in the fresh produce and global food market Naturersquos Basketrsquos cult following was enhanced with their first concept storemdashNaturersquos Basket Artisan Pantry at Palladium This European marketlike arrangement filled with international products jostling for space with Indian brands and some innovative counters itrsquos a foodtogo mecca that features a cafe where you can savour freshly made sushi hot peppermint mocha or nasegoreng as you explore taste and learn about the finest ingredients from around the globeHoney barTargeting SoBo customers who are known to value quality over price fresh produce takes centerstage around segments like boulangerie cheese room charcuterie wine cellar and chocolate studio The decor is minimal and the staff is quick to respond to queries without being intimidatingWe loved the jars of lemon and mintinfused water kept on the tables at the Good Food Cafe The manuka honey bar was our favourite too One could sample from a wide range of honey to choose from We liked the improbably generous antipasto and olive bar alongside the truffle bar a carefully curated selection of speciality items artisanal drinks and local flavoursCheese roomThe farmerrsquos markets and live cooking gourmet studios exemplify how a supermarket can respond to consumer demands for sustainable options tasty food and a prettylooking shopping environment It makes it a celebration of food culture where people can attempt to come closer to the farming community and enhance their culinary skills as well The idea is to become a community hub for food enthusiasts sharing love for exceptional food experiencesWhat Naturersquos Basket Artisan PantrySize 11800 sq ftAt Palladium 3rd floor Lower ParelAmbience ModernEuropeanService Friendly nonintimidatingCOST Mid to ultrapremiumCALL 8527678841Verdict GoodChota packet bada dhamakaPicsSameer MarkandeModest in size but not selection Fresh Signature has 17 live food stations carefully curated to offer a range of products and dishes These include Le15 patisserie desserts live khakra and chikki stations an icecream sundae parlour a noodle bar and a health cafeacute On a Sunday evening it was packed to the gills perks of being inside a mall and it takes a few seconds for your senses to adjustLive Chikki stationAlso because this store follows a similar blueprint to Freshpik stores where deep containers of desi dals and grains retail alongside imported soba noodles and tagliatellemdashthe options are plenty Cultural significance extends beyond the spice jars tea blends and crusty baked bread spilling into an artisanal honey bar nut butter grinding station and moreLIVE KHAKRA STATIONBreaking away from the monotony of traditional grocery retail we liked the live hair oil and ubtan counter where you can customise the product according to your hair and skin type and problems that need to be addressed Their fresh produce section had produce sourced from farms locally and globallyCustomised oil and ubtan counterBreaking away from the monotony of traditional grocery retail you realise that the whole thing has been built to resemble a sort of farmersrsquo market with all the different stalls brought together under one roof Buy some popcorn sip on bubble tea and shop for your groceriesWhat Fresh Signature Infiniti Mall AndheriSize 9000 sq ft approxAt Fresh Signature Infiniti Mall Andheri WestAmbience Luxury bazarService Prompt and friendlyCost Mid to premiumCall 67082941Verdict GoodPutting the lsquobaniya buddhirsquo to workCaviar sectionFresh spices are being roasted at a counter on low flame before grinding it for a customerrsquos order This is what modern farmerpreneurship looks like when two visionaries who went on to start largescale aquaponics and sustainable soilbased farms across Kolhapur Ratnagiri Sindhudurg and Belgaum for over five years ventured into a business which they believe is an extended version of their vision of a social movement with commitments around local sourcing and sustainabilitySpice millKilling two birds with one stonemdashit was as though the founders of Food Square Mayank Gupta and Lalit Jhawar found a permanent indoor market for their produce to be sold at fair prices alongside culinary produce and products from all over the worldFresh CatchSpread across four floors each nook offers a different gastronomic conceptmdashfrom fresh guacamole to fresh sugarcane juice to make your own pickle to having fresh pasta made right in front of your eyesmdashthe luxury of fresh for a city thatrsquos always on the go makes it an interesting experienceCheese platterTherersquos a chefled ingredientfocused cafe The Barn in the basement and the madira section has wine selection curated by sommeliersThe sublime interiors and warm lights offer the perfect backdrop for artisanal brands and startups to showcase their innovative and millennial products Therersquos a oneofakind cheese selection that boasts over 350 varieties from around the worldTherersquos caviar too and fresh catch and clams from local waters and foreign waters From Indian sweet shop to pet store to a coffee lab truffle bar and the widest range of Japanese chocolates this flagship store offers something for everyone We liked how the staff is kind and in the pretext of being helpful doesnrsquot intimidate customersPet careWhat Food squareSize 29000 sq ft AT Food Square Plot No 106 Linking Road Santacruz WestAmbience Modern opulentService Proactive nonintimidatingCost Mid to ultrapremiumCall 9833355199Verdict Excellent