Boosting sales with Super Bowl displays

Creative promoting and displaying of Super Bowl snack ingredients is key to boosting sales at retail as consumers gather to enjoy the game, fruit-and-vegetable suppliers say.

“Retailers should absolutely consider building a dedicated section to capitalize on consumer excitement for the Big Game,” said Manuel Michel, managing director of the Colombia Avocado Board.

He suggested that retailers prominently feature avocados in high-traffic areas, such as the front of the produce section or near store entrances.

“Cross-merchandising with complementary items like tortilla chips, dips and onions creates a convenient, one-stop shop for guacamole ingredients,” he added.

And including signage indicating avocado ripening levels can help less-experienced consumers choose the perfect fruit for their needs.

“Shoppers hit retail for their game-time spreads during the week leading up to the Big Game and the weekend of, so these are the key times to promote avocados,” said Brooke Becker, senior vice president of sales for Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif.

Mission Produce can help retailers take advantage of POS merchandising and promotions with campaigns tied to both college and professional football, she said.

Baskets jump by an average of $41 during college football season when avocados are on the list, Becker added.

Indio, Calif.-based Green Life Farms suggests retailers create a special Super Bowl section featuring the company’s products along with examples of dishes customers can make, such as guacamole and fresh salsa, said Jaime Torres, chief financial officer.

“Eye-catching displays with recipe cards and serving suggestions can inspire customers and boost sales,” he said.

The Benson-based North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission would like supermarkets to position sweetpotatoes as a healthful option.

“Creating in-store signage, handouts and recipes that frame sweetpotatoes as a healthy option will enable health-conscious consumers to add them into the grocery cart,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director. “Add callouts about the Super Bowl such as ‘Game-day MVP: Sweetpotato Fries & Snacks,’ ‘Score big’ or ‘Huddle Up with Sweetpotato Recipes,’ she suggested.

It’s also a good idea to create nutritious recipes that are game-day themed.

“Create recipe cards with guacamole, nachos and chips including ingredients and instructions to spark inspiration and creativity,” she said.