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Commentary
From Our President
With banks going broke; thousands of people losing their jobs and homes and food stamp usage up by millions, the recession seems hardly the time for holiday good cheer. But for those of us in the supermarket business, things could be a lot worse. We have more going for us than most retailers. PRIVATE LABEL is growing. Private Label with improved quality and packaging, backed by better merchandising and shopper satisfaction, have joined forces in making house brands a powerful ally and when it’s needed most. FLEXIBILITY is crucial. Supermarkets can make necessary merchandising and operational adjustments through advertising and promotions in their flyers and web sites. Supermarkets are close to their customers and change sits well with most shoppers, especially if the changes are for the better. MORE MEALS AT HOME are helping. Restaurants losses are food stores gains. People are eating out less and food preparation at home is on the rise. Since supermarkets are the main provider of meal ingredients, manufacturers continue to produce new and improved products designed to make meal preparation easier and more convenient. A new wave in packaged foods is helping to restore Center Store to its former prominence within the grocery aisles. RX and HBC are important. Today’s demographics with the aging population increase the need for medications and emphasis on wellness. The expansion of HBC departments makes supermarket’s RX and HBC departments even more important in our troubled economy. GENERAL MERCHANDISE provides new opportunity. With the advantage of one stop shopping, supermarkets are ideally positioned to capture more impulse sales, where shelf space allows food retailers to effectively compete as a one stop shop. SEASONAL MERCHANDISE still brings holiday cheer. Even with all of the economic difficulties seasonal products make the holidays better and quality of life more enjoyable. So during this holiday season, we feel extraordinary fortunate to be connected to supermarket retailers. Our industry is in an enviable position when compared to most other retailers. Let’s hope that the New Year will bring better economic news as we give thanks for the blessings of family, friends and associates. For comments or questions, contact us by phone at 508-756-5156, or e-mail: msleeper@imperialdistributors.com
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Despite Tough Times, Being In The Supermarket Business is Enviable