08/01/2010 10:13PM
Few shoppers know how to pick a ripe pear or how to ripen a pear once it is purchased. This lack of education may prevent shoppers from getting the most out of a pear purchase. A hit-or-miss buying pattern means pears have remained an impulse category, despite the fact that they are now available year-round across the country.
Category management efforts in the past 10 years have improved retailer and consumer awareness of the unique value proposition of pears, ultimately serving to bring pears closer to the forefront of the buyer and seller mindset. One top variety has even seen a growth rate exceeding 11% in the past five years. However, the category as a whole continued to struggle during the latest 52 weeks, consistent with downward trends during the past five years.
07/01/2010 02:09PM
Renewing consumer excitement in a familiar category is a challenge the table grape industry has faced for years. It’s been about 6,000 years since grapes were first cultivated, and many consumers still think of grapes in the most basic of terms: red, green or black. Developing new packaging and merchandising methods are examples of ways that suppliers and retailers have worked together to breathe new life into the grape category. In fact, new grape product concepts that meet demand for greater convenience and higher quality have seen success already. Future successes in this category will be dependent on the willingness and capacity of category managers to watch for opportunities where these kinds of adjustments can make all the difference.
06/18/2010 10:32AM
Stone fruit is an important category, but it is highly seasonal.
The
bulk of the category is supplied by domestic growers during an 18-week
season spanning early summer to early fall. Providing quality during
this short season is critical to the category’s success. As a result,
stone fruit is evolving on many fronts, including the development of
niche varieties and the shift toward tree-ripened fruit.
04/30/2010 05:23PM
Berries have long been a prominent category in the produce department, with availability of varieties rotating with harvest times. Today, a more sophisticated berry category has emerged.
