PLMA 2014: Promise on the perimeter

carol angrisani

I’ve had the pleasure of judging PLMA’s Salute to Excellence awards for the last few years. I look forward to it every year because I get to spend a day with a group of industry professionals and consumers taste-testing new product introductions. We then vote for the ones we like best. It’s always a learning experience.

One of the trends from the just-announced 2014 Salute to Excellence awards is how retailers have improved their store brand fresh products, from produce to dairy, deli and bakery.

Among the products that won a 2014 Salute to Excellence award: Kroger’s Fresh Selections sugar snap peas, Ahold’s Simply Enjoy artisan ciabatta bread; Sobey’s home-style Italian fresh ravioli and Trader Joe’s Trader Jose’s brand Spanish cheese tapas sampler.

When it comes to success with fresh, another retailer comes to mind: Hannaford. That’s because the retailer has taken an innovative approach to market its perimeter store brands. Under a partnership NutriSavings, a corporate wellness company, Hannaford awards discounts to shoppers who buy select better-for-you store brands.

NutriSavings participants receive electronic offers, cash-back rewards and other incentives to fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and other products that can lower body mass index, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose.

Participating items include Hannaford Fresh Greens, Hannaford Rainbow Bell Peppers, Hannaford Fresh Cut Fruit Spears, Nature’s Place Organic Frozen Vegetables, Taste of Inspirations Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Taste of Inspirations Hummus, My Essentials Brown Rice, MyEssentials Seedless Raisins.

Discounts range from 75 cents off any 5-ounce pack Hannaford Fresh Greens to $1 off any two 16-ounce bags of Nature’s Place Organic Frozen Vegetables.

Promotions like these prove there’s store brand promise on the perimeter.