FOOD LION IS RESETTING STICK GOODS CHAINWIDE

JOEL ELSON

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion here is in the process of setting a new planogram for its stick goods departments chainwide.

The effort, which began last month, eliminates overhead skybars displaying short-handled items and small brushes.

The merchandise is being repositioned to the middle of the main pegboard gondola that holds long-handled goods.

The planogram also scales down the larger sets from 16 to 12 feet with the minimum department size running 8 feet. The retailer is looking for a 20% increase in stick goods sales by implementing these changes, said Chris Struzik, assistant category manager for general merchandise.

"We are making the section easier to shop and more accessible to the average shopper," he said.

The replanogramming is scheduled to be completed at all 1,100 store locations by Oct. 23, said Keith Duncan, vice president for nonfood at Charlotte-based Atlas Marketing Co., the Ekco broker coordinating the resetting.

The new sets also involved a brand change to Ekco products. Previously, the O'Cedar line had been carried by the chain. The new assortment is priced between 99 cents and $9.99. O'Cedar products retailed slightly higher, with items priced up to $12.99.

The mix continues to offer a few stockkeeping units in Greenwood corn brooms and deckmops. Some Greenwood short-handled brushes and cleaning supplies were dropped to avoid duplications, added Wilde.