Food sampling, it’s time to Pop Up at new locations.

Supermarkets, Grocery Stores and to a lesser degree Convenience Stores all know that sampling food products sparks sales. What we are beginning to see pick up steam in the Grocerant sector is the use of samples on private label food products popping up. We all know the Whole Foods has hot ready-to-eat food stations scattered about their stores and for quite some time they have utilized sampling as a way to build customer product trial and loyalty. When will national brands begin the same on there products ala Costco.

What is now interesting is watching Safeway’s lifestyle stores increase sampling and companies like COSTCO sampling their own private label ready to heat products in the store. This is great, it has been proven time and after time that sampling food works. In a recent study and I quote from Progressive Grocer “established brands, the sales lift the day of the event was 177 percent greater than the control group, which received no samples. It remained up 57% after the 20-week period.”

Restaurants and C-stores new or established brands, there is one thing you must continue to do is sample food products within your 4 walls. Research on restaurants show’s 33% of customers that arrive at your restaurant every day have never eaten in your unit. If you’re a national brand that does not mean they have not been exposed to the brand but your unit is new too them. Capture that experience in a positive way! Sample, Sample, Sample, independents and regional players the opportunity is even greater!

Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche. More about us: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or leave a comment or question below. If you would like to read the latest interview of Steve Johnson on Grocerants here is the link: an interview of Steven Johnson at: www.goodfoodsales.blogspot.com/2009/12/grocerants-steven-johnson-shares-his.html