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1 week ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
Catering to the most active produce shoppers is key for spurring greater category activity. But a varied shopper base with unique interests can make such merchandising complex.
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1 week ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
More produce shoppers are going loco for local. With many consumers perceiving locally grown fruits and vegetables to be fresher and better for the environment, retailers that merchandise and promote selections from nearby growers can gain a powerful competitive advantage, analysts said.
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1 week ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
The retail seafood sector will be wise to heed the words of Mark Twain, who notably said that good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. It is vital that seafood retailers learn from their bad operational decisions, as the impact on the sector can be brutal, analysts said.
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1 week ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
A wide range of consumer interests and attitudes toward seafood is making successful category merchandising an arduous endeavor. Developing effective sales strategies requires operators to understand the decision-making processes from a host of shopper segments with different purchasing preferences, analysts said.
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4 weeks ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
Maintaining a high-performing retail produce department requires a juggling act. Retailers should not only meet the product needs of different shopper segments, but the merchandisers must select the most appropriate pricing and promotional measures while maintaining inventories, analysts said. While many shoppers are seeking newer and more interesting assortments, for instance, a large base still focuses on traditional selections and do not want merchandising surprises.
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4 weeks ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
More retail outlets from a greater range of channels are emphasizing produce, and that is making it increasingly difficult for grocers to thrive in the jammed merchandising environment. Yet stores that are willing to break with convention by carrying added and less popular varieties of fruits and vegetables can draw attention, said Jonna Parker, team lead, Fresh Foods Group, for Circana, a Chicago-based market research firm.
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1 month ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
Higher prices are not impacting the vibrant dairy sector. Despite overall dairy aisle prices rising 5.1% for the 52 weeks ending January 26, unit sales grew 2.6%, reports Circana, a Chicago-based market research firm. Operators are in the enviable position of merchandising products that are staples for the many shoppers who will keeping purchasing selections regardless of cost, said Melissa Altobelli, Circana senior vice president, dairy and bakery practice leader.
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1 month ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
It's time to think outside of the seafood box. That can be a fruitful merchandising message as retailers are in a position to boost sales by demonstrating seafood’s role as a side dish, appetizer, ingredient, and snack instead of primarily being a center-of-the-plate option, analysts said. A focus on increasing the consumption of seafood in various dayparts also presents growth opportunities.
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1 month ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
Few food categories can match seafood’s need to provide shoppers with product and preparation information. With many consumers reluctant to purchase seafood because of concerns about price, taste, waste, sustainability, and cooking, it is essential that merchandisers educate shoppers on product attributes and meal development if they are to sustain and increase activity, analysts said.
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1 month ago | 
supermarketnews.com | Richard Mitchell
Transporting fruits and vegetables along the supply chain can be perilous. With the ever-present prospect of road delays and mechanical issues threatening to impact produce quality and generate waste, it is imperative that transit operators have the tools, training, and procedures to prevent losses, analysts said.
