Cross Merchandising Produce: A Fruitful Approach to Retail Success

Grocery store owners and managers are always looking for ways to boost sales and make their store the favourite of their customers. Though there are many things that can be done to make a grocery store more appealing to shop in, a great atmosphere is only part of the puzzle when it comes to becoming your customers’ favourite store. Great merchandising, including cross-merchandising produce, can go a long way towards making your store the one to shop in, yet knowing how to effectively implement cross-merchandising in grocery stores can sometimes feel like a challenge.

At LemonTree Produce, we are a leading manufacturer of grocery table displays and are passionate about the design of produce display systems. We are committed to delivering high-quality produce display solutions to store owners and can help make your store stand out from your competitors. In this post, we explore the benefits of cross-merchandising to help you further improve your store. Making it the top choice of your customers for all their grocery shopping needs.

What Is Cross Merchandising?

Cross-merchandising is a retail strategy that involves displaying products from different categories together to create a more engaging shopping experience and to increase sales. This approach helps to suggest complementary items to customers, encourages impulse buys, and can highlight the versatility of certain products. Cross-merchandising can be a great way to boost sales in your produce department, though in many cases, effective cross-merchandising can also improve the customers’ experience by sparking inspiration and making their shopping trip an enjoyable experience.

Cross-merchandising is part of your greater merchandising strategy and goes hand in hand with other merchandising practices. See our posts, Maximizing Profit with These Effective Produce Merchandising Tips and How to Display Produce in a Grocery Store, for more tips on creating a great customer experience in your produce department.

Produce Cross-Merchandising Ideas

Your produce department is a great place to implement cross-merchandising as it can help to highlight in-season or featured produce. There are countless ways to implement cross-merchandising within a produce department, though it is always important to reflect your target customer when considering cross-merchandising. See our list below for produce cross-merchandising ideas.

• Pair bakery items with fresh fruit and berries to inspire fresh and creative dessert options
• Highlight vegetables that are ideal for grilling during the summer season and offer suggestions on meats or seasonings that would complement the grilling experience.
• Have salad toppings and croutons available in close proximity to lettuce, greens, and produce that would compliment a salad bar.
• Focus on healthy picks by pairing fresh fruit and greens with smoothie ingredients such as yogurt or pantry items like ground flax seed or hemp hearts.

Cross-merchandising is a smart way to improve the shopping experience of your customers while also helping to improve sales. Don’t be afraid to get creative with merchandising and let your grocery store shine. Don’t forget that produce display systems also play a role in setting the tone of your customers’ shopping experience. Book a free design consultation and let the experts at LemonTree Products show you how impactful the right produce displays can be.