Farm Stores to Launch in Lafayette, Louisiana as Drive-Thru Concept Gains Popularity Among Local Consumers

For more than 60 years, Farm Stores has been bringing the nostalgia of drive-thru grocery stores together with modern day technology and innovation. The results have consistently been successful—the brand’s unique concept has built up an unprecedented amount of customer loyalty across its home state of Florida. And now, Farm Stores is bringing drive-thru convenience and grocery stores to a new community: Lafayette, Louisiana.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open up for business in Lafayette. The city is filled with hard-working people who are in need of a new kind of grocery store that caters to their busy schedules,” said Carlos Bared, Farm Stores’ CEO. “Our concept isn’t something that you see often—we’re a one of a kind hybrid between a neighborhood grocery store, bakery and quick-service restaurant. That gives us a competitive advantage that’s hard to beat.”

Farm Stores delivers fresh, quality products straight to its customers. Its design ultimately eliminates the hassle of struggling to find parking at an over-crowded grocery store, only to find out that products are picked over or to get stuck at the back of a long check-out line.

That drive-thru business model is perfectly positioned for the Lafayette market. According to the franchisee who is launching the Farm Stores brand in the area, local consumers are already familiar with going through a nearby drive-thru to get a bite to eat.

“Lafayette is all about the drive-thru concept. We have barbecue shacks, coffee shops and even daiquiri stands that all operate exclusively out of drive-thrus. But we’re still lacking a store that delivers the most basic and convenient items like bread and milk right to your car door. That’s exactly what Farm Stores brings to the table,” he said. “This model works because its quality and customer service are the best in the grocery business, and consumers want the ultimate convenience in today’s society.”

That heightened level of convenience is fueled by Farm Stores’ commitment to technological innovation. The brand is currently in the process of rolling out a new program—Farm Stores 4.0— to its stores that includes a mobile app where customers can place their orders in advance, browse through a specific location’s inventory, engage a loyalty program and use mobile payment features. These enhancements will be built in to all of Farm Stores’ upcoming Lafayette stores.

“This new program gives us the opportunity to widen our lead as the brand at the forefront of the grocery industry,” Bared said. “By expanding into new markets like Lafayette and making enhancements to our concept, Farm Stores will continue to stand out and expand across the country.”