I’ve never been to a Wilson Farms store, but I like the way management thinks. The “smaller-scale food store” chain in western New York has been in business since 1960. Growth has been steady and Wilson Farms now has 195 stores, many of which are looking pretty outdated.

Fortunately, the CEO is a forward-thinking guy who realizes the importance of good retail store design. .“We think (the old design) kind of overstayed its welcome a bit,” he says in this article in Convenience Store Decisions. “Our challenge is to go in and rebrand all our stores.”

He’s doing it the right way, too: over time. Upgrades to infrastructure, HVAC and store systems were done in 2005-06, and a prototype store was unveiled near Buffalo last year. It’s a place where ideas are tested to see what works for customers and staff. Products and merchandising also are tried out. The foodservice manager wants the new stores to suit the needs company’s needs not just today, but well into the future.

“We know customers don’t spend but five minutes in our stores,” the VP of sales and marketing says. “We don’t want to extend that if that’s all they want to stay. We want to make their shopping experience as pleasant and efficient as we can.”

Other things the chain has going for it: a history of community involvement, an easy-to-navigate website, and a practice of hiring local store associates as well as corporate executives.

You can learn a lot by following the example of retail chains like Wilson Farms. Always think about the future. Hire locally when possible. Get involved in the community. Those are just a few of the keys to success in this business. Use them to develop your own prototype store, even if it’s just on paper.