The holiday season is one of the most colorful times of year, and I’m not just talking about the festive lights and garlands. A curious walk through the produce aisle will have eyes lit up with wonder at the culinary possibilities that lie in wait. For those buyers hoping to find a little merchandising inspiration this holiday season, our exclusive SnackChat may have exactly what you’ve been looking for…
“This holiday season, retailers can promote fresh produce by highlighting seasonal items and offering special deals on popular fruits and vegetables. Consider featuring eye-catching displays of vibrant produce near the entrance of the store to entice customers to shop for healthy and delicious ingredients for their holiday meals. Offering recipe suggestions and cooking tips on social media and in-store signage can also inspire customers to try new and nutritious options for their holiday gatherings.”
“During these celebratory times of year, retailers can boost produce sales by creating eye-catching displays specifically for shoppers preparing to host holiday and sports parties. Consumers are seeking fun, themed ideas—things like small bites, festive beverages, tree-shaped charcuterie boards, and baked desserts are immensely popular. Giumarra Companies can assist our customers with merchandising tools and social media posts to enhance produce displays and online shopping. Many of our peak fall and winter items are a perfect fit for colorful merchandising, including grapes, berries, citrus, persimmons, and Lemonade™ apples. From game-day, hand-held appetizer bites with Fuyu persimmons or apples, to a ‘Holiday Cheese Ball’ with grapes, goat cheese, and rosemary, we have party merchandising ideas ready to share.”
“Big parts of my family’s holiday traditions are centered around cooking together. Those special moments start with a trip to the grocery store. Seeing beautiful produce displays piled high, while pushing my twin girls in the shopping cart are where the memories begin! Large overflowing displays of potatoes and onions are the star of the plate and the produce department. A good arrangement of loose and bagged product is key with offerings of unique items sprinkled in, such as a Murasaki or purple potato, which can round out the display. Garlic and onions will be the base to so many dishes throughout the season, so leaning into cross-merchandising will help move even more product.”
“As we all know, the holidays are an amazing time to share our favorite things with the ones we love. In our case, some of those favorite things happen to be fresh fruits and veggies! When we choose what to merchandise during the holiday season, it is important to keep in mind that we want to sell the products we are proud to bring to friends and family ourselves. December is a great time to highlight the best citrus available, and make sure there is as much variety represented as possible to meet all tastes!”
“The holidays are peak season for sweet potato sales and opportunities abound to merchandise Bako Sweet® potatoes with both classic and thought-provoking companion products. We have seen great success cross-merchandising our value bags—the perfect portion for family-sized recipes like sweet potato casserole—with seasonings, compound butters, and, of course, marshmallows. Holiday feasts are becoming a delicious mix of nostalgia and innovation, and, with that in mind, we challenge retailers to add creative additions to their displays like chocolate squares and graham crusts for a s’mores sweet potato pie. Shoppers want to feel inspired to make tasty new renditions of old family favorites.”
“Retailers can elevate fresh mushroom offerings during the holiday season by highlighting convenience and creativity. Consumers are looking to impress guests during the holiday season in a way that doesn’t take away time from their guests. Giorgio’s new Savory Sauté Kits are quick, flavor-packed dishes or an easy way to elevate a dish. Our ever-expanding line of Stuffed Mushrooms can be promoted as crowd-pleasing appetizers that simplify holiday entertaining while continuing to deliver indulgence. Retailers can showcase exotic mushrooms to introduce a sense of adventure, appealing to foodies looking to experiment with unique flavors in their holiday dishes. Positioning mushrooms as a versatile, on-trend ingredient for convenience and culinary exploration can drive holiday sales and shopper engagement.” 
