A newly launched Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit is specially designed to empower retailers and produce merchandisers to elevate heirloom tomatoes, tap into their unique charm, and boost sales for this rapidly growing subcategory. The kit was launched by Wholesum, an organic grower and shipper of Fair Trade Certified fresh produce, who excitedly describe their new tool as the "all-in-one resource, the ultimate guide to the art of selling heirloom tomatoes."
"An item of timeless beauty, heirloom tomatoes are known for their rich flavors, vibrant colors, and unique shapes. With a 35.5% increase in sales within the organic tomato market in a 6-month period*, there is no doubt they are increasingly capturing consumer interest with potential for continued growth. Due to their distinct characteristics and market positioning, effective merchandising strategies are crucial to maximize their potential", the team says. Recognizing this, Wholesum has developed a kit that combines expertise in growing and selling organic heirlooms with successful merchandising strategies tailored to this product. "This is a tool to help at all levels of produce retail, especially anyone handling heirloom tomatoes."
The kit is powered by insights from a mix of sources to ensure a well-rounded approach to heirloom sales. It features data from consumer surveys, Nielsen market insights, as well as detailed feedback from a panel of retail experts with hands-on experience in handling and merchandising heirloom tomatoes. One survey zeroed in on heirloom tomato consumers, diving into the key factors driving their purchase decisions while another survey targeted non-consumers, uncovering purchase barriers and reasons behind their limited heirloom consumption. The kit includes tips on optimal pricing, placement, product assortment, and promotional strategies, covering all aspects of the "four P's" of retail merchandising. Additionally, a handy cross-merchandising calendar is provided to inspire creative merchandising and usage ideas.
The Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit lives on a landing page easily accessed through the Wholesum website. It houses three downloadable PDFS including:
The Makings of an Heirloom: General product information highlighting some of the unique and differentiating qualities of heirlooms and a high level understanding of the expected taste experience.
Merchandising Best Practices: Proven strategies and tactics for sourcing, displaying, promoting, and pricing heirloom tomatoes to attract customers and boost sales.
Heirloom Cross Merchandising Calendar: Holidays and seasonal moments for promoting and cross merchandising heirlooms along with usage ideas.
"As a pioneer in the organic greenhouse heirloom tomato sector, we have an understanding of the opportunities that heirloom tomatoes present for retailers. The Heirloom Tomato Merchandising Kit is an essential component of our comprehensive strategy to elevate heirloom tomatoes in the market and ensure our partners' success," says Joanna Jaramillo, Marketing Manager at Wholesum. "Recognizing the need to stay ahead of market trends, support our retail partners, and inspire consumers, we've designed this merchandising kit to simplify the decision-making process, making it easier than ever for shoppers to choose heirloom tomatoes."
"We extend our gratitude to our customers, whose invaluable insights played a crucial role in creating this resource. While we cherish the beauty of heirlooms, we also recognize some of the potential challenges in selling them. This kit is our way of supporting our partners in overcoming those challenges, making heirlooms an accessible, appealing and available option to consumers," states Ricardo Crisantes, Chief Commercial Officer.
*Nielsen US FMCG Fresh Tomato data looking at the 6 months ending March 16, 2024.
For more information:
Joanna Jaramillo
Wholesum
Tel.: +1 (520) 455–7589
[email protected]
www.wh.farm