Turning on the light switch in a bakery shop holds a world of power in addition to making everything visible. When set up correctly, it is a combination of form, function and feeling.
A professional lighting setup for a bakery café skillfully pairs retail psychology with hospitality ambiance, artistic expression of a brand’s identity and food color science, all the while retaining its core practicality – to brighten up and visually define the spaces in the establishment. In a well-thought-out setting, the lights will simultaneously put the spotlight on the #1 star – the products, create a welcoming atmosphere for its patrons, entice them to linger and try more treats, and support the staff while producing and handling the offerings.
For Italian designer of lighting solutions for food and fashion retail, IMOON, the philosophy behind lighting design lies in the seamless synthesis of technical performance and architectural aesthetics. “Designing light goes far beyond simple visibility: in addition to selecting specialized LEDs to enhance products and choosing the ideal color temperatures for a welcoming feel, we must identify fixtures that integrate harmoniously with the design of the space itself. For instance, using pendant lights over tables doesn’t just create focused light accents; it also contributes to the interior design through finishes—such as specific RAL colors – that coordinate with the overall palette of the premises. From this perspective, the lighting fixture ceases to be a mere technical tool and becomes an integral part of the architecture and the shop’s visual identity,” the leading lighting specialist shares.
In a new light
Each space is unique. To correctly establish a lighting project, it is essential for a lighting design specialist to be involved from the very early stages of the store concept development. “Lighting must evolve in perfect synergy with the architectural vision; therefore, the lighting designer must work closely with the interior designer to understand the intended message and the desired atmosphere,” IMOON experts explain. A determining factor for the light setup is the study of the color palette: “The dominant colors in the space drastically influence light performance. Since different colors and materials have different reflection coefficients, these choices dictate the power output (wattage) required for the fixtures to achieve the target illuminance levels (lux) within the shop,” IMOON underlines. In short, the process begins with concept analysis, moves through the study of materials and colors, and culminates in the technical calibration of lighting parameters.
“The dominant colors in the space drastically influence light performance. Since different colors and materials have different reflection coefficients, these choices dictate the power output (wattage) required for the fixtures to achieve the target illuminance levels (lux)
within the shop. ”
IMOON specialists
Founded in 2010, IMOON completes over 1,000 store projects every year. The company designs architectural lighting solutions that help enhance geometries, materials and perceptions, aside from their functionality. Together with lighting designers and architects, IMOON develops bespoke lighting scenarios that “amplify both spatial and sensory experiences” with the use of specialized LEDs and advanced optics, customized to the space. The goal is to shape light info configurations that meet precise technical and emotional targets.
Highlighting each space: eating out
For a dining location to feel and look inviting, the light setup is designed to encompass technique and artistry. A bakery café requires a distinct approach. The primary goal is customer experience: here, “We aim to create a cozy atmosphere that encourages guests to linger. To achieve this, we use warm color temperatures to put people at ease, paired with accent lighting – such as spotlights on tables or the counter – to add a touch of drama and depth. Visual comfort is key here: the lighting must be welcoming without being intrusive or causing glare,” the specialist underlines.
Reaching the perfect balance between many different aspects is not an easy feat for dining out spaces. Functionality and space separation need to be combined with reflecting the intended mood, while also conveying the brand’s identity as an immersive experience.
In IMOON’s experience, the main challenge lies in successfully meeting the emotional soul of lighting with functional and regulatory requirements. To achieve the ideal combination of these aspects, light must be used as a scenic and design element that simultaneously enhances the product, presenting it in the best possible way. “While we use accent lighting to boost aesthetic appeal and create visual ‘islands’ within the space, it is equally essential to guarantee safety and functionality. This means ensuring adequate illuminance levels (lux) both on work surfaces – allowing staff to operate with precision – and along walkways, to ensure customer comfort and safety. A brand’s identity is expressed through this very balance,” the specialist points out.
The Vision system
With the new system, light becomes a tool for orientation, engagement, and connection with the customer, from checkouts to aisle and department signs. Checkout numbering, promotional messages, department signage, cross-selling content and safety signs are integrated directly into the lighting element, making communication an organic part of the space. This is achieved with flexible, centralized content management via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or data network connections.
Vision offers dynamic, contextual and data-driven communication, as it is designed to accommodate Artificial Intelligence solutions and flow analysis. The system helps guide the eye, improve in-store navigation, and stimulate sales through dynamic communication. Its ultra-high-brightness LED display ensures excellent readability even in natural light.
As a whole, Vision is conceived as a modular communication and lighting platform, articulated into four dedicated solutions for different areas of the store, each equipped with professional LED display modules that guarantee maximum legibility and reliable, long-term performance:
+ In the checkout area, Vision Dart integrates lighting, numbering, and LED screens for direct control over informative and promotional content, transforming the registers into an active space for communication and sales.
+ In the aisles, Vision Track is a tool for buyer orientation and engagement, with double-sided displays that guide customers along their journey with promotional, cross-selling and safety messages.
+ At the department level, Vision Veletta reinterprets signage, transforming aisle signs. The high-visibility, animated display brings communication, lighting, and architectural function together in a single element.
+ Vision Fly display solution maximizes product visibility by integrating side LED screens that deliver dynamic, promotional content.
A successful shopping encounter
By comparison, in a point of sale such as a bakery shop, the focus shifts toward sales conversion at the counter. In this case, “We utilize specialized LEDs with warm tones that emphasize the freshness of the baked goods, making them look ‘straight out of the oven.’ Our dedicated Warm and Extra Warm HD LEDs are specifically designed to bring out these textures and golden hues. When pastries or cakes are involved, we must also consider the vibrancy of other ingredients, like colorful fruit or the pure white of cream. For this, we implement Full Color LED technology: it maintains a warm color temperature while ensuring brilliant whites and vivid colors, making every product look irresistibly fresh,” IMOON recommends.
The tone of the concept is one layer; to this, various iterations should be considered – such as special settings for different occasions, and even different moments of the day, or changing seasons. Through all these changes, identity must be preserved, so that the light can tell all the stories it meant to convey.
Light profoundly influences the perception and energy levels of people within a space. It’s crucial to adapt the lighting to the consumer’s varying needs throughout the day, IMOON explains: “In the morning, someone entering a bakery for breakfast is looking to recharge for the day ahead; in this case, higher light levels and cooler color temperatures help stimulate the mind and body. In the evening, within that same environment, the need shifts toward relaxation. We then transition to warmer color temperatures that evoke a sense of domestic intimacy, alongside lower illuminance levels to harmonize the interior with the fading natural light outside. Technologies such as dimming and Tunable White are essential tools for managing these transitions, allowing us to create the perfect atmosphere for any time of day with ease.”
The bakery corner of Edeka Center in Berlin, Germany
Light means shadow, too
In any project with a goal to find the best lighting methods and sources, shadows must also considered. The shadows cast by the objects in an establishment are an essential component of an environment’s scenic design. IMOON illustrates: “If lighting is excessive or too diffuse, the emotional impact is lost because depth is sacrificed.” Shadows create the three-dimensional effects that prevent objects and products from appearing flat or uninspired. “Properly managing shadows is fundamental when lighting aims to be theatrical as well as functional. This is typically achieved through accent lighting: the contrast between light and shadow directs the customer’s gaze toward specific products and defines the architectural volumes, making the space visually dynamic and engaging.”
The Vision beyond the light
The Milan-based lighting expert perfected a new solution, called ‘Vision’, which made its debut at EuropShop this year, representing a bold new step in the company’s innovation journey. Vision is both a smart retail lighting solution and a communication platform, incorporating product and design into complete lighting concepts. Lighting fixtures become digital media and a living part of the brand’s narrative. “Vision is an unprecedented solution by Imoon that natively combines lighting and communication, transforming lighting fixtures into digital media capable of delivering informative, promotional, and service-oriented content within the store,” its developer details. This professional system is designed for diverse retail contexts in terms of size, layout, and product categories, and engineered to transform technical infrastructure into a visual experience on multiple levels: “not just light, but information, guidance, storytelling, and purchasing power.”
The bakery corner Nur Hier in Hamburg, Germany
RAL colors
RAL is a color matching system defines colors for paint, coatings and plastics. The RAL standard is administrated by the RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung, located in Bonn, Germany. ‘RAL’ is the abbreviation of ‘ReichsAusschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung’, which can be translated in English as ‘National Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance’.
The RAL color system is one of the most recognized color-matching systems in the world. It is widely used in architecture, construction, manufacturing and infrastructure. Among the many colors in the RAL Classic palette, some shades have become especially popular due to their versatility, aesthetics and practical advantages.
RAL color charts include a toal of 2,831 colors, split between the following RAL color systems: RAL Classic, RAL Design, RAL Effect, RAL Plastics P1 and RAL Plastics P2. RAL Classic is the most well-known and widely used system, with RAL 9010 (pure white) being the best-known RAL color.
Source: www.ralcolorchart.com
In particular, Vision Veletta redefines in-store communication. Imoon designed it to transform traditional bulkheads into high-visibility digital signage and powerful marketing tools. “This all-in-one system features a front-facing animated display for multimedia content (such as videos or promotional messages), while integrating recessed or track lighting into the rear,” the specialist elaborates. With its customizable shapes, Vision is meant to simplify store architecture by eliminating the need for complex drywall structures. This, in turn, significantly reduces installa
The bakery corner of a Silpo supermarket in Ukraine
What makes it great to have in a bakery? The Vision Veletta version, in particular, is the ideal solution when positioned above the counter, IMOON suggests. Placed here, it combines impeccable product lighting with targeted, dynamic communication: “It allows for real-time promotions, information on ingredient quality, details regarding allergen-free products, or personalized services. This approach not only enriches the customer experience but also acts as a powerful sales driver, leading to higher turnover by effectively communicating value and encouraging cross-selling directly at the point of purchase.” Talk about shedding light on what matters!