Keeping super-profitable berries up front – and “top of mind” – make for an endless summer of sales.

Every retailer knows that Summer is the top season for tempting shoppers to buy more fruit, but did you know that those big numbers don’t have to slow down in the Fall? Remember, strawberries are a year-round crop, so the produce department can absolutely enjoy an endless summer – and a very profitable one at that.

Right now is the perfect time to harness the power of berries for an extended retail boost that lasts through Autumn and beyond. Berries are the retailer’s secret weapon that keeps cash registers ringing through this transition period, all the way to the holidays. Ripe, aromatic strawberries practically sell themselves, and they whet the appetite for everything else in the produce aisles. This means keeping berries “top of mind” for shoppers, by giving them plenty of reasons why they want berries again this week, and the next.  To give that extra lift to your produce sales, try these merchandising tips:

–Front of store, front of mind. Keep berry displays in the very front of your produce section. Not only do people typically see-first-buy first, the visual appeal of fresh, colorful berries puts shoppers in a happy friendly frame of mind. And they’re actually apt to buy additionalfresh items when berries are prominently placed: Produce sales overall are known improve by 6% and more, thanks to this “berry boost effect.”

-Maintain displays after summer – in a semi-permanent spot. By focusing on your berry displays, you help make them a healthy, weekly habit, not just an occasional dessert idea Bure sure to keep them freshly-rotated twice a day and neaten them up often; you don’t want a bruise or stray leaf to detract from the whole effect.

-Cross-merchandise for that extra sizzle. Help guide your customers to the purpose behind the purchase, not just animpulse buy. Bakedgoods, whipped toppings, salad ingredients, bite-sized cheeses and crackers, yogurt add-ins – all these can easily follow berries into the shopping basket. By giving shoppers all the possible reasons they need to buy more berries, they will naturally do so. And by using these principles in your displays, you’ll have a compelling mini store-within-a-store – that makes the whole space appealing and fun to shop in.

Berry Important Facts to Know

• Studies show that when berries are the focus of a produce department, sales of all produce are increased 6% and more.
• Dollar sales can increase up to 16% by maintaining displays through the end of the season — and increasing the size of displays can generate dollar and pound sales increases of nearly 12%.
• When you display more products, and include all the size and grade options, shoppers are often motivated to buy more than one package.

Ready to supercharge your berry displays? You can leverage our merchandising materials to make your berry department sell even better. Our posters and display cards feature nutrition data along with berry selection and storage info to help consumers learn why berries are a smart buy. To request marketing materials, contact [email protected].