From Taco Bell to EV Charging Points: How Location Data is Shaping the Way for Successful Brands
These days where convenience and accessibility reign supreme, the location of a brand’s outlets can make or break its success. As industries adapt to evolving consumer demands, we are witnessing a significant surge in new outlets across various sectors, from fast food to fitness, childcare to setting up electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Brands like Taco Bell, B&M, Primark, Greggs, Aldi and Asda have been expanding this year. Along with padel courts, nurseries, EV charging points and bakeries are rapidly opening new sites in high penetration areas to maximise customer reach and profitability.
The Recent Surge in New Outlets
In this blog, we explore this trend and how location plays a pivotal role in these expansion strategies. Here’s a closer look at some brands and sectors leading this charge:
Fast Food
As consumer preferences shift to different cuisines or more experiential dining options, fast food chains need to increase their footprint. For instance, Taco Bell is in its early stages of growth with over 135 sites, but they are keen to expand further and take advantage of this interest in Mexican-inspired food.
So, they have already opened sites at two Motorway Services in the UK. Location plays a crucial role here, as proximity to high footfall areas is essential to capture their target audience.
Padel Courts
The popularity of Padel, a racket sport that is a mix between tennis and squash, has been growing exponentially. With its rising fan base, there are currently over 450 courts and there is a clear demand for more as in 2022 there was an increase of 116% in just one year.
Clubs offering padel are focusing on locations with high population densities of sports enthusiasts, existing gyms, fitness centres, or parks to drive engagement to play it.
Nurseries
The UK’s changing demographic landscape, marked by higher birth rates, a marked increase in the number of young families and the evolving workforce dynamics have directly influenced the increase in childcare needs, so the demand for nurseries is on the rise.
The location of a nursery is critical for parents who prioritise convenience, safety and proximity to their homes or workplaces. Expanding nurseries in suburban areas, near business districts and in communities where young families are living helps to meet this growing demand.
Bakeries
Artisan, specialty and food on the go bakeries like Greggs who will open another 160 new shops across Britain in 2024, have seen a surge in popularity with consumers increasing the demand for fresh, high-quality baked goods.
Opening bakeries in areas with high footfall, such as bustling urban neighbourhoods and near schools or business districts, can attract a steady stream of customers. The appeal of freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes makes the right location a key driver of foot traffic.
EV Charging Points
With the purchase of electric vehicles (EV) gaining momentum, the need for an EV charging infrastructure has never been greater. There are now almost 1 million electric car chargers in the UK, with the majority of them installed privately in homes and at business premises. But only 69K public chargers are currently available, so it is predicted that 2.3 million will be needed by 2030 to keep up with demand.
Establishing a robust public network of EV charging points strategically placed at shopping centres, petrol stations, office buildings and along major roadways is essential to ensure that EV owners have easy access to charge their cars.
Where’s the Best Place to Open Your Next Outlet? Let the Data Decide!
When expanding your business, choosing the right location is crucial. Newgrove has been at the forefront of Location Intelligence for over 25 years, enabling brands to make strategic decisions about their locations based on customer insight and local demographics. Using this data, means that businesses can make informed decisions about where to open new sites, ensuring they are strategically placed to meet customer demand and achieve profitability.
4 Reasons Why Location Data is Key for Expanding Brands
1. It helps you to identify ideal locations – by analysing commercial insights, brands can pinpoint locations that align with their target market. For example, Taco Bell can use demographic data to identify areas with a high concentration of young adults who are likely to frequent fast food outlets. Similarly, nurseries can focus on neighbourhoods with a growing population of young families.
2. It minimises your risk – opening a new outlet involves significant investment. Location Intelligence helps mitigate risk by providing insights into areas with high demand and low competition. This reduces the chances of opening an outlet in a location that fails to attract enough customers.
3. It optimises your resources – successful expansion requires efficient resource allocation. Location based data enables brands to prioritise sites with the highest potential for success, ensuring your investment is channelled to achieve the best returns.
4. It enhances customer experience – by choosing locations that are easily accessible and conveniently located, brands can enhance the customer experience. This leads to increased foot traffic, higher customer satisfaction and ultimately greater brand loyalty.
We understand the critical role of location data in driving business growth. Our expertise in location analytics can help your brand navigate the complexities of site selection, ensuring that your expansion strategy is grounded in solid data. Whether you’re planning to open a new outlet, or you have broader expansion plans, Location Intelligence is the key to unlocking new opportunities and staying ahead of the competition.
If you’d like some help with your expansion strategy, contact us for a ten minute demo of Periscope® and experience the power of our advanced Location Intelligence tool.