Stew Leonard's - The Store

The Store

The New York Times called Stew Leonard's the "Disneyland of Dairy Stores." The store has taken tips from educational practices, where they implement visual, auditory, and kinesthetic strategies into their sales. Stew Leonard’s have created animatronics characters called the "Farm Fresh Five." These animatronics are lifelike, and perform songs and dance that entertain the customers from all ages. This has made the shopping experience more engaging and exciting for families. It provides an area for kids to have fun while the parents shop. This new concept of selling has taken away the stress from long lines at the grocery store. The stores are not set up like traditional grocery stores; one must walk through the entire store (though there are short cuts). As customers walk through a path of aisles, they are greeted by different employees dressed up in costumes and by animatronic favorites such as Twinkie the Kid, the Chiquita banana, and Clover, a cow's head that moos when one pulls its rope. The stores also feature petting zoos and outdoor cafes in the warmer months and sell a variety of prepared meals year round. Customers are also offered an unusually large number of food samples for a supermarket, as well as free drink samples.