COOL BLENDS

MARYELLEN LO BOSCO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Most of the beer in this market is sold in cold cases, often cross merchandised with snack items.

For example, at a Hendersonville, Tenn., store of H.G. Hill Stores here, cold beer is merchandised in 13 doors, next to snacks, SN found during an in-store visit. In front of the refrigerated beer is an endcap with Frito-Lay chips and dip.

During SN's visit, 8-ounce bags of Tostitos were on sale at two for $3.

At Charlotte, N.C.-based Harris Teeter's new Hendersonville unit, beer takes up an entire side of an aisle. Opposite the beer are chips, salsa, dips, pretzels, potato chips, popcorn, peanuts and even some cookies.

Domestic beer at a store of Bruno's, Birmingham, Ala., is merchandised in 36 feet of refrigerated casing, with coolers cross merchandised on top of the case.

When SN visited, Budweiser suitcases were promoted on an endcap with signs reading, "Get All Your Cookout Needs Right Here." On the endcap were grills, coolers, mustard and ketchup bottles, gas lights, Lay's potato chips, Boboli pizza crusts and pizza sauces.

The Budweiser suitcases were on sale for $17.39, and Bud Light and Budweiser 12-ounce can 12 packs were on sale for $8.69. Bruno's also had 16 feet of imported beer merchandised in the gourmet department. These brands were not refrigerated. Refrigerated beer is cross merchandised with coolers at the Hendersonville unit of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. The coolers appear on top of the cases. Beer is located next to dairy.

Food Lion, Salisbury, N.C., has two beer locations in its Hendersonville store, both in cold cases. During SN's visit, 12 packs of Red Dog and Southpaw were on sale for $5.89.