Supermarket Perimeter - October 2024 - 3

Editor's note
Editorial
JOHN UNREIN
Editor
ANDY NELSON
Managing Editor
HAYLEY HYER
Digital Media Associate Editor
Publishing
TROY ASHBY
Publisher
GRETCHEN WAGNER
National Account Executive
LAUREN JULIANA
Inside Sales Specialist
KATHI D. GILLELAND
Senior Director of Marketing
and Promotions
WHITNEY HARTMAN
Sales Enablement Specialist
DUSTIN PICKMAN
Audience Development Director
CARLEA CHANCE
Audience Development Specialist
JON HALL
Director of Digital Media
CARRIE FLUEGGE
Digital Advertising Manager
NORA WAGES
Advertising Manager
ANNIE FOURNIER
Advertising Coordinator
ELISABETH SPILLMAN
Design Services Manager
BECKY WHITE
Senior Design Consultant
FIONA DANKER
Senior Graphic Designer
JIM WHITE
Promotions Manager
ABBY CHRONISTER
Promotions Media Designer
Corporate
CHARLES S. SOSLAND
Chairman and CEO
L. JOSHUA SOSLAND
President
STACI GRECO
Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
MEYER SOSLAND
Chief Operating Officer
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supermarketperimeter.com
The fresh
advantage
Corn Flakes are Corn Flakes, Lay's are Lay's, Charmin is Charmin.
At the risk of sounding like I'm not earning my paycheck,
sometimes you have to say the most obvious things to drive
home the points that most need driving home.
You can buy those three things and tens of thousands of other things like them anywhere,
and it's not going to affect the quality of the product or your consumer experience too much.
It's the fresh perimeter departments where grocery stores either prove that they belong or
don't make the cut.
Again, obvious. But it still comes as welcome news to have it confirmed, as a new report
from FMI - The Food Industry Association conclusively does.
" Fresh food departments are central to retail differentiation, driving significant consumer
engagement and loyalty, " according to FMI's annual Industry Speaks poll of US grocery
retailers and operators, who overwhelmingly cited fresh departments when asked about
their current priorities.
" Food retailers are catering to shopper's needs by expanding space allocation for fresh graband-go
options, and nearly all food retailers offer local assortments throughout their stores. "
Food retailers are actively looking to expand space for various fresh or perimeter
departments in the next two years, according to the association.
Some food retailers expect to increase their labor allocation in foodservice and specialty
fresh (such as in-store butchers, " produce butchers, " and cheese mongers).
An average of 41% of food retail dollars in total online sales were generated in 2023 by
fresh or perimeter departments.
Meat and produce departments are the fresh leaders in sales per labor hour. The report
spotlights these issues based on findings from the Speaks research.
Consumer trends including convenience, health and well-being and local are influencing
food retailer and supplier strategies in fresh and other parts of their businesses.
As retailers look to expand their perimeter footprint, they will look at things like additional
space for fresh prepared foods, particularly grab-and-go, and fresh produce.
ANDY NELSON
anelson@sosland.com
OCTOBER 2024 - 3

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Supermarket Perimeter - October 2024

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