SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Consumers Food & Drug here plans to complete a re-racking of its aluminum foil bakeware sections this month as part of a program to better align its housewares offerings.
The 20-unit chain is going from a slanted shelf display to a pegged presentation of foil items. The new planogram makes room for about a dozen additional stockkeeping units.
This fall the grocer enlarged its cooking gadget sections 4 feet, allowing for 30 new stockkeeping units in a 200-item selection. It also went from a double- to single-row gadget presentation. The result has been a 10% to 15% jump in gadget sales, according to Jay Larson, director of general merchandise.
The retailer also broadened its line of food storage containers to include 15 medium and larger products.
These efforts to fine-tune presentation of housewares categories are in response to shoppers' demand for home meal replacements, said Larson.
These products make life easier and meal preparation and food storage smoother," he said.
Larson sees this trend favorably affecting nonfood sales and predicts Consumers Food & Drug's nonfood sales levels could go from 6.5% to 9% of total store sales.
"Time-pressed consumers are using plastic storage containers and other kitchen housewares accessories for home-meal replacements, and the trend can build sales," he said.
This fall the retailer introduced freshly prepared soups in vacuum-sealed bags that it pegs in its deli showcase. This can be cross merchandised with plasticware storage containers, said Larson.
