Portland, Ore. – Pear Bureau Northwest, the nonprofit marketing organization that represents the 1,600 fresh pear growers of Oregon and Washington, has named Meijer as the 2012 Pear Retailer of the Year for its outstanding pear merchandising program.
Meijer is being recognized with this award due to their successful implementation of pear merchandising tactics that resulted in a 15.8% increase in pear sales over the past year. By implementing proven pear merchandising strategies, Meijer has taken advantage of the profit opportunity that pears have to offer.
According to Kevin D. Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, Meijer put a mix of tactics into play that led to achieving this level of success in the category. “Carrying ripe pears on display and maintaining a conditioned pear program was one of the key strategies that Meijer used to see pear sales at this level. They also maintain large, eye-catching pear displays with multiple pear varieties offered together, both organic and conventional, in two sizes, in bulk and in bags. They also position pears at the front of the produce department to increase visibility for this high impulse purchase fruit, and they continue to price their pears competitively,” said Moffitt. “They implemented an array of tactics that prove good pear merchandising increases sales and profits… in Meijer’s case, that meant a 15.8% sales increase in one year.”
Meijer humbly accepted this award, and looks forward to continued growth in the pear category. The Pear Retailer of the Year Award was established by Pear Bureau Northwest in 2011, when Demoula’s Market Basket was the 2011 recipient. The Pear Bureau’s team of regional marketing managers selects the annual recipient based on sales performance, creativity in pear merchandising, and overall excellence in supporting the pear category. Honorable Mentions for 2012 are Dierbergs, Lewis Food Town, Sprouts Farmers Market, TOPS Markets, and W. Lee Flowers (IGA).
Pear Bureau Northwest partners with retailers nationwide in an effort to increase overall success with the pear category. The organization provides marketing and merchandising expertise that is customized specifically for each retail organization, using its pear consumer research findings as well as individual store analysis using an in-house data system that measures pear category performance nationwide. Retailers who are interested in partnering with Pear Bureau Northwest should contact them at profits@usapears.com or 1 (800) 547-4610.
About Pear Bureau Northwest
Pear Bureau Northwest is a non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote the fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon, home to 84% of the US fresh pear crop. The Bureau represents 1,600 growers and develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information, visit www.usapears.org.
Source: Pear Bureau Northwest
