GroceryBag

I finally got around to posting some shots of NYC on the site and what I
have to love about the city is the diversity that is offered out. While
it seems Canadian retailers are on this mad rush to be the same
everywhere (the last time I was in a Sobeys, Real Canadian Superstore or
a Costco I would have been hard pressed to even know what Canadian city
I was in). For a shopper there is the convenience factor - you know
where everything is. For the shopper there is also the ho hum factor -
okay I'm here, I'll pick up the basics but boy it certainly isn't
exciting grocery shopping for me and the kids.

And sometimes the difference can simply be signage. If you click on the
photo gallery and select New York City Grocer shots you'll see a tomato
display. The sign is simple and heartfelt - *We love our tomatoes, we
want you to love them too. Please handle them very gently.*

I was flipping through the July 11 - July 17th Fortinos banner trying to find its heart.

There are several special offers - Free $10 long distance card with purchase as long as I buy one for $20. Not a purchase that I will run out and make given that you can't even tell what the per minute charge on the card is.

On the front cover we've got fresh USA strawberries for $1.88 per pound.
Thankfully the local Ontario growers are finishing up for the week as someone is not making any money on this deal.

Fortinos is also offering Great Summer Recipes - Pick Up Your Free Booklet in store today. 

That might have a little heart it there. I wonder what the booklet is like.

They are offering Rainier cherries at $4.99/lb and the Northwest Cherry  logo is there (and if you check out this week's A&P flyer you will see a similar logo but they are offering sweet colossal cherries at $2.99/lb.  Of course as a consumer you can't tell the difference until you are
actually in a store as the word colossal can mean many things and what  is a Rainier cherry anyway?

Both groups are offering large Royal Gala apples except that at A&P they are from Chile (making them a slightly older crop) and at Fortinos they are from New Zealand (making them the freshest until USA or Canadian supplies comes on in the fall) at $1.29/lb or $2.84/kg.

Anyhow I found no heart in the Fortinos banner. Fact is if you are on any of the internal pages you don't even know it is a Fortinos flyer.

Flyers have not changed for decades - is there a reason they are still used? Does it actually drive sales? What has it been measured against recently?

How many times have I walked into a store asking for a particular brand or a certain type of produce item only to be told that it is out of season; no longer listed; not available or some other excuse off the top of the produce clerk's mind.

Frankly I think they get no training whatsoever or feel that since they have been in the business for 15 plus years that they know it all. All I know is that they are hindering produce sales by simply being stockers of shelves and pretenders of knowledge.

All Things Organic is taking place this weekend in Chicago. It will be a good chance to find out what is changing in the world of organics. Is it still growing? Does an organic customer equal a "green" customer or is it a customer that just wants food grown in a safer matter? What about packing - does the consumer care or even think about that when they purchase a organic item?

I'm excited to be going - not only for the show but that fact that Chicago is such a great mix of good art, music and shopping.  I'll keep this site posted as to what I spot.

Christina Yli-Luoma signing off.

The QPMA had a problem - their spring reception was taking place the first night of the playoff series -- the quick solution: put in place several large screen monitors so that guests from the wholesale and retail trade could enjoy the game and still tend to business. The turn out was strong but many departed a bit earlier to see the end of the game -- and what an ending. 28 seconds remaining, the Habs had not played very well but pulled it off at the end.  The games are just starting so let's see what happens.