INDUSTRY NEWS

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Now up— automated dining models

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t’s the return of the automats. As a result of restaurants struggling to sell food during the pandemic in places like New York City, automats—which sell food similar to a vending machine without any human interaction—are making a comeback. Rising in popularity following the end of the Spanish Flu in the 1900s, the style disappeared as the McDonald’s and Wendy’s of the world rose in stature. Thanks to a flair for delivering comfort food to weary customers, the game may be back on.

Target + Ulta = Convenience N ext year will see a unique partnership designed to give pandemic-era shoppers more options. Target and Ulta Beauty are teaming on 100-plus in-store shops next to the beauty departments. The 1,000-square-foot shops will sell a rotating set of products from more than 40 fragrance, beauty and skin care brands. To help complement the program,

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — DECEMBER 2020

Ulta will train Target employees as beauty consultants. The partnership is expected to be a boon for both, as both companies will gain a larger consumer base. Together, the retailers boast more than 100 million active loyalty program members across Target Circle and Ultamate Rewards—with more than 33 million coming from Ulta.