Years ago, the grocery store was just a place where you picked up your food items for the week. Over the last few decades, consumers have become busier and savvier, thanks to advancements in technology.

Grocery stores have responded to this change, evolving into more than just a quick place to stop and instead becoming culinary centers.

Now more than ever, food retailers answer the new needs of their customers by implementing programs that teach consumers how to prepare healthy dishes at home. According to Family Speaks, a 2011 study conducted by FMI, 32% of retailers offer cooking classes in their stores, and that’s not all!

• In-store chefs are all the rage! The demand for chefs in grocery stores continues to grow. These chefs are hired to prepare high quality meals for consumers.

• Supermarkets do the prep work. Whether it’s marinating a pork loin or cleaning and chopping the vegetables, retailers have highly qualified cooks to perform these tasks.

• The relationship between grocery stores and consumers goes beyond the store floor. The combination of social media, web, email and publications keep consumers informed about store offerings as well as offers, tips and quick recipes to prepare dishes at home.

• Food retailers go mobile. Retailers like Giant and Wegmans, and many others have created apps that not only provide coupons, but allow consumers to create and manage shopping lists based on recipes they plan to prepare.

• Finally, food retailers continue to use traditional means to educate consumers on cooking, including local media and community events.

What are you doing in your stores to make it easy for consumers to prepare meals at home?