In Cool News of the Day, Tim Manners covers a Business Week story about how Larry Johnston, recruited from General Electric, is remaking Albertson’s, the nation’s second largest grocery chain.

What’s really interesting about this story is how real innovation has to keep reframing the challenge. The modern American grocery store completely reframed the idea of convenience. Then Wal-Mart had a run at the idea. Now Johnston is reframing it using new technology. Self-service never looked so good.

I have always been disturbed by the idea that America’s economy depends on growth. "Grow or die." But maybe, just maybe, growth was really just a symptom of innovation and creativity.

Link: Reveries – marketing insights and ideas.

[Larry Johnston’s] plan is to do for grocery shopping what few, if any, other supermarkets have ever thought to do — that is, make it "quick and easy." To that end, "in 18 months shoppers in all 2,500 stores will use handheld scanners that are connected to a global-positioning satellite system. The devices will read product labels and keep a running tab; they can direct customers to the shortest path to their groceries and alert them to special offers based on past purchases or that a prescription is ready. At the exit, the scanner charges the total to a credit card. No checkout line. No waiting." Says Larry: "The new technology not only allows us to be more efficient, but it also allows us to connect with customers at the most intimate levels."