Fresh Pulse: Strategies Amid Declining Volume

Volume is down more than 4% across the store in February, but a little less so in fresh departments. Despite the dim outlook, Jonna Parker, principal of Circana’s Fresh Center of Excellence, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, highlight some bright spots in fresh and share some creative promo strategies they’ve seen, as well as some valuable insights on pricing.   Key takeaways:   Fresh – and especially the meat department – is a three-legged stool for 2023: affordability, permissibility, and favorability. As cash-strapped and frustrated shoppers search for deals, consider “stacking promos” or shelf tags that remind shoppers how much prices have dropped for certain products. Be careful with pricing strategies, however. Use data to understand price sensitivity and learn which tactics will “move the needle.”