Supermarket Perimeter - September 2022 - 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
KATHI D. GILLELAND
Senior Director of Marketing
and Promotions
WHITNEY HARTMAN
Sales Enablement Specialist
DUSTIN PICKMAN
Audience Development Director
CARLEA SCHULER
Audience Database 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
MARJ POTTS
Production Specialist
BECKY WHITE
Senior Design Consultant
FIONA DANKER
Senior Graphic Designer
KATELYN BETZ
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
A note to our readers
Supermarket Perimeter knows how important it is to have timely access to the vital
industry information and insights we provide. In addition to our industry leading print
editions, you can always stay engaged wherever you are with our digital editions at
supermarketperimeter.com/digital_editions. You can get the latest news first by signing
up for Supermarket Perimeter's newsletters by visiting supermarketperimeter.com/
newsletter_subscriptions. For assistance please e-mail us at subscriptions@sosland.com.
supermarketperimeter.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 - 3
ANDY NELSON
anelson@sosland.com
The future
of produce
It can be hard to imagine the grocery fresh produce
department struggling.
Even if you're not interested in learning more about
the huge variety of fruits and vegetables from all over the world, even if you don't care
about health or cooking, even if you hate grocery shopping - it's hard not to love all the
colors and shapes, the sheer aesthetic enjoyment of walking the produce department.
It's no surprise that fresh produce is the first thing you see when you come into the store,
and why shoppers put it No. 1 on their list of " Why I shop at Store X. "
But produce isn't immune to the pressures that face all departments of grocery retail and
retail in general.
At the height of COVID, online shopping - including for fresh fruits and vegetables
- soared.
That raises all kinds of questions. Traditionally, buying fresh fruits and vegetables has
been a sensory experience. You see it, smell it, squeeze it and maybe even taste it before
you buy it. How your senses react at point-of-sale is enormously important, and the
numbers to prove it: About 80% of produce sales are made on impulse in the store.
By contrast, online shopping is an intellectual experience. Another contrast: produce
departments are designed to make people slow down and take their time picking out their
fresh fruits and veggies. That's the opposite of how most people shop online.
Produce departments are also facing big labor issues. Many industries are in the same
boat, but produce is often particularly hard hit - the workers that grocery stores do have are
increasingly being taken out of produce and other departments to focus on filling orders for
customers taking the online route.
Who knows what the retail produce department of the future will look like, but with the
explosion of digital, it's guaranteed to be significantly different.
But produce isn't going anywhere, and here's guessing it will find new ways to thrive. For
proof, just walk into the nearest department and have a look, smell, feel and maybe even
taste around.

http://www.supermarketperimeter.com/digital_editions http://www.supermarketperimeter.com/newletter_subscriptions http://www.supermarketperimeter.com

Supermarket Perimeter - September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Supermarket Perimeter - September 2022