Recent News Releases

Rising prices fuel sales growth across all fresh departments
April 21, 2011 – New research from the Perishables Group reveals rising food prices were a primary driver of increased sales in the fresh departments of U.S. supermarkets last year. The information was released in the Perishables Group’s new Department Drivers reports, which combine point-of-sale supermarket data, consumer demographic profiles, shopper loyalty card data and secondary research to determine the most important factors impacting fresh department performance. Fresh department sales comprised a growing percentage of total store sales in recent years.  In 2010, the deli led all fresh departments in sales growth, increasing both dollar and volume sales by 4.5 percent. Read more...

Prepared and organic produce sales increasing 
New report reveals top drivers of produce department performance
April 21, 2011 – New research from the Perishables Group reveals premium priced options are driving growth in the produce department. The information was released in the Perishables Group’s new Produce Department Drivers report, which integrates point-of-sale supermarket data, consumer demographic profiles, shopper loyalty card data with secondary research to determine the most important factors impacting department performance. Fresh department sales, including produce, deli, bakery, seafood and meat, comprised a growing percentage of total store sales in recent years, and in 2010 the produce department posted dollar and volume growth despite higher prices.  Read more...

Deli prepared foods lead department's increasing share of fresh
New report reveals top drivers of deli department performance
April 21, 2011 – New research from the Perishables Group reveals the in-store deli is gaining share of perishables sales, driven by deli-prepared foods. The information was released in the Perishables Group’s new Deli Department Drivers report, which combines point-of-sale supermarket data, consumer demographic profiles, shopper loyalty card data and secondary research to determine the most important factors impacting department performance. Fresh department sales, including produce, deli, bakery, seafood and meat, comprised a growing percentage of total store sales in recent years. In 2010, the deli led all fresh departments in sales growth, increasing both dollar and volume sales by 4.5 percent.   Read more...

In-store bakeris have opportunity to reach more consumers
New report reveals top drivers of bakery department performance
April 21, 2011 – New research from the Perishables Group reveals in-store bakeries may not be meeting the needs of a broad consumer base. The implication was provided in the Perishables Group’s new Bakery Department Drivers report, which integrates point-of-sale supermarket data, consumer demographic profiles, shopper loyalty card data and secondary research to determine the most important factors impacting department performance.  Read more...

Perishables Group partners with Spire
Perishables industry leader to provide fresh food shopper dynamics
March 8, 2011 – The Perishables Group, the industry-leading consulting firm specializing in fresh food category management and marketing, formed a partnership with consumer-centric analytic services firm, Spire LLC, to provide shopper loyalty card analysis for fresh foods. The partnership combines Spire’s Loyalty Network^TM of more than 30 million U.S. households with the advanced analytical capabilities of the Perishables Group to provide various levels of detail around shopper dynamics and switching behaviors for all products sold in supermarkets.
Read more...

Perishables Group partners with Market Track
Industry leader to integrate Market Track data into new suite of promotional analysis tools
Oct. 1, 2010 – The Perishables Group, an industry-leading consulting firm specializing in fresh food category management and marketing, has formed a partnership with Market Track, the thought leader in print and online promotional marketplace intelligence.

“We’re thrilled to offer our clients expanded options and flexibility for promotional reporting,” said Perishables Group President and CEO, Bruce Axtman. “The synergies between the Perishables Group and Market Track make it a natural fit and an added value for clients.” Read more...

Perishables Group marks 10 years in fresh food consulting
Aug. 24, 2010 – The Perishables Group, an industry-leading consulting firm in the fresh foods business, celebrates 10 years of business this month. Founded in 2000, Perishables Group President and CEO, Bruce Axtman, established the company to fill the growing need for accurate sales data from the fresh departments.

“There was a substantial gap in the information collected between fresh and center-store products,” said Axtman. “Innovation was growing in fresh, and with it came the need for more sophisticated information.” Read more...

Perishables Group adds retail program director
June 30, 2010 - The Perishables Group, a national consulting firm specializing in fresh food category management and marketing, recently added Retail Program Director David Wojdyla to the company’s Chicago staff. As Retail Program Director, David manages all aspects of the Perishables Group’s retail data services and supplier category management program, including critical sales activities and projects with upper-level retail directors, category managers and vendors.  Read more...

Consumer priorities drove fresh department sales trends in 2009
April 15, 2010 - Shifts in the availability of fresh foods across retail channels spurred competitive promotional strategies at supermarkets in 2009, according to recently-released fresh department studies by the Perishables Group.  In the produce, deli, bakery, meat and seafood departments, health remained a top priority for consumers, as did stocking up on purchases when a good value was available. Consumers responded to aggressive promotions across departments, most notably in seafood, which posted 5.4 percent sales growth year over year.  Read more...