Grocery Market Insights – Local Produce Drives Impulse Purchases
How many times have you gone to get some groceries and stopped to look at some fresh fruits or vegetables that weren’t on your shopping list?
Fresh, perfect-looking strawberries? Yes please – doesn’t matter if they’re more in quantity, one can always bake a strawberry cheesecake!
We’ve all been there…
… and the 2020 Power of Produce report from the Food Marketing Institute seems to confirm that this impulse buying is indeed not so uncommon.
It states that 24% of individuals interviewed confirmed that local produce is a reason for their impulse purchases.
Additionally, the report also shared that 54% of shoppers said they would like to see a wider range of locally grown produce at their go-to grocery store.
Why Are People Preferring Local?
One of the main reasons is that the pandemic has negatively impacted many local, small- and medium-sized businesses across the country. This has led many Canadians to consciously support local businesses, restaurants, and farms.
Canadians are increasingly becoming aware of their social responsibility – towards their fellow Canadians and their country. This is reflected in a BDC-Ipsos survey. It shows that Canadians buy local:
- To support the local economy – 97%
- To support local farmers – 96%
- To create local jobs – 93%
Not only the people but provincial governments are also helping to create awareness about locally produced products. Recently, Ontario’s Premier, Doug Ford, announced the Ontario Made program to help support Canadian growers and manufacturers.
Similarly, quite a few grocery stores are also putting red maple leaves on the shelves of products that are Made in Canada.
Another reason for the rise in the demand for local produce and the consequent impulse buying is that consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are shifting from the consumption of processed fruits and vegetables to fresh produce.
A BDC study highlights that increased health awareness is transforming food demand. Hence, a sizable increase in the demand for fresh, locally produced items has been seen in recent years.
What Should You Do?
If the customers want fresh, local produce – you can ensure they get it at your store!
In addition to stocking local produce, you can also incentivize customers to purchase the products by running promotions, including them in your flyers, displaying in-season items, and creating eye-catching signage.
You can even add a personal touch to the signage – for instance, share the details of the local farm, highlight the farmer’s story, or even share some pictures!
When it comes to making local produce shine – we can help! We can support in stocking the produce, managing inventory levels, and more. Contact us today to learn more. Call 1-877-421-5081 or visit www.storesupport.ca.
Do you take any special initiatives to showcase local produce? Share with us on social media. Storesupport is on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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