Opinion
Competition checks are an integral part of understanding your business and seeing how other stores are doing. Columnist Armand Lobato offers some observations to include in your checklist.
Pricing is important to shoppers, especially during inflation, but is it the overwhelming factor? Columnist Armand Lobato shares the top grocery store preferences that he’s heard from customers over the years.
Benjamin Franklin (indirectly) offers some advice on reducing shrink in the produce department. Columnist Armand Lobato explains the wisdom of Old Ben’s words and shares steps to cut down on potential losses.
Produce display signing is typically a well-honed program — but easy it isn’t, and sign management can quickly regress into chaos if not handled properly, says columnist Armand Lobato.
While a brix measurement offers a detail about sweetness, going beyond the numbers can keep a customer coming back all summer long, says columnist Armand Lobato.
In-person events in the relationship-based produce business help keep conversations and creativity flowing among professionals who work throughout the industry, says columnist Armand Lobato.
If a grocer is built properly for convenience, with good customer service, a tired shopper is more likely to head to that store at the end of the day, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Having a seasoned produce supervisor handle operations for major store events is good — having additional experienced personnel on hand to deal with the swarm of demands is even better, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Adding these relatively simple showcases can compel customers to spend more time in the produce department — and raise the potential for purchases, says columnist Armand Lobato.
The inclusion of food systems in global climate plans opens a realm of opportunities and challenges, underscoring a need for a thoughtful and nuanced approach, says guest columnist Tamara Muruetagoiena of the IFPA.
It helps to grade well on quality assurance, because when things get out of control, it’s often a downward spiral that follows, says columnist Armand Lobato.
You’re qualified and check all the boxes for a coveted promotion, so why wouldn’t it be yours to take? Columnist Armand Lobato offers a deeper look at some perceived strengths that may not matter as much as you think.
Though some think higher-ups “don’t know what it’s like” being a clerk, these veterans have plenty of knowledge to share with those aspiring to advance.
Amid times of division, this Thanksgiving message is as relevant today as it was over 160 years ago.
Knowing your produce business is a core management tenet. How well you take notes now — keeping a work diary, if you will — can impact your future sales, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Columnist Armand Lobato reflects on one exceptional trait that set Tom Cagle apart as a leader and mentor.
Like the produce department, creating a great customer experience has changed dramatically of the years. The International Fresh Produce Association’s Joe Watson offers insight in this guest column.
Is your store skimping on its fresh produce program? Companies that commit to high-quality, prominent and well-executed produce departments are foremost in consumers’ perception, explains columnist Armand Lobato.
NFL coaching legend Vince Lombardi said, “You don’t do things right once in a while. You do things right all the time.” That also applies to ensuring freshness, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Don’t want to get burned by ordering too little or too much? Columnist Armand Lobato offers advice on maintaining a well-stocked produce department.
Check out leading U.S. fresh produce imports for the last five years and longer-term charts of U.S. berry and avocado imports.
Suddenly the industry’s attention on continuous improvement has wavered. The COVID-19 crisis refocused operators on simply surviving. Full steam ahead on plastics, recyclable or not!
As produce supervisors, we were often looked at as retail “cops,” making unannounced visits around our 66-store chain to drop in on produce managers and see what kind of shape their departments were in that day.
Fresh produce market prices have been quite variable in the weeks since the COVID-19 crisis began in March.
If you haven’t noticed, top-notch customer service is my pet peeve.
Two days into a week-long poll, industry operators are weighing in on the question “What is the top sustainability priority for your company?”
What is your top goal for sustainability?
Now that the USMCA has begun, what can we say about the North American Free Trade Agreement?
To anyone outside the produce world, marketing fruits and vegetables in retail may seem like a quiet, even easy line of work.
There’s something about an abundantly stocked produce department.