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Fortnum & Mason's unique retail platform will almost certainly be successful in the US market. While skewing more high-end than Whole Foods, so long as the concept fulfills its mission of making great food accessible to everyone—and does so in a genuine, authentic manner, the forthcoming Manhattan location will be a success. Americans continue to embrace and support experiential, expressive brands, and Fortnum & Mason are leaders in this form of retail execution.
 Jeff Hall, President, Second To None, Inc.

Europe's food halls will do well in the United States and will not take business away from existing channels. The sales will be incremental. Bring it on.
 David Biernbaum, Senior Marketing and Business Development Consultant, David Biernbaum Associates

The food hall is not necessarily a new idea here. We have had similar, albeit more modest, "halls" in America in the past as well as a host of Farmer's Markets of many dimensions. We are a nation whose new generations of consumers want new, different venues and ideas. The Fortnum and Mason-type Food Hall (also Harrod's) should appeal to the shopping thirst of large segment of today's Americana. They will add interest to food shopping. Bring 'em on.
 Gene Hoffman, President, Corporate Strategies International

Fortnum & Mason is a wonderful brand, but with very little penetration in the emancipated world. No royals or royal seals of approval here. We seek out their marmalades every time we're in London, but tailcoated service people in what we call food courts (not food halls) would be subjects of derision here. Nordstrom installed grand pianos in their stores and they look great, but as a regular shopper there, I’ve only heard their ivories being tickled near Christmas. Much too pretentious any other time of the year. In this part of the world, snooty/stuffy sells well only in the Elite East and on Rodeo Drive. The rest of us are far too plebeian.
 M. Jericho Banks, PhD, Partner-Owner, Select Marketing LLC

I think there are really two questions here: 1) will the few halls that open up here be successful, and 2) will there be many of them; the answer to #1 is yes, to #2 no.
At the risk of reducing this to one of those "Europeans are different" clichés, food halls do well in Europe where the conditions are right (a wealthy population living close-in to the store), and would probably do well in the United States/Canada when the situation is similar (i.e., Midtown Manhattan). Would it be department stores that feature them? Well, Philadelphia had one in Strawbridges (it would have been 20 years old next month) and Macy's—in its infinite wisdom—closed it (along with the store).
'csundstrom'

Anytime I've gone food shopping in Europe, I've spent way too much time basking in the joy of it, knowing that trying to replicate the experience in the United States would be futile. I dream of Harrod's restaurants and endless food shopping options from raw to cooked in particular. Whole Foods, and concepts such as Eatzi's in Dallas, have touched on the potential here; however, luxury food shopping in the United States is still the land of opportunity if you ask me.
 Carol Spieckerman, President, newmarketbuilders

I was enthralled the first time I saw Harrod's Food Hall, and I can only think that anything that duplicates that experience here will eventually be a major hit if it starts out accessible to folks who care enough to pay for quality now, then adds boatloads of sampling and to educate folks who are at first price-resistant, as they learn the difference between real food and that corn-based swill that so often passes for same in the center aisles of the Midwestern supermarket.
I can't wait!
 Mary Baum, Chairman, Mary Baum Creative Services

Food halls run by high-end European retailers will probably fail in the United States. Although Manhattan may be seen as a great location for such an upscale concept, profits won't be visible. Rents in Manhattan are extremely high, and food shoppers won't transport large purchases. Rich folks in Manhattan eat in restaurants. Home delivery is also astronomical, and once again, rich folks in Manhattan eat in restaurants. Did I mention that rich folks in Manhattan eat in restaurants?
 Mark Lilien, Consultant, Retail Technology Group

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