Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/694821
P r o d u ce S h o w D a i l y 2 1 W e d n e s d a y, Ju n e 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 the buying power of the U.S. Hispanic market was $1.3 trillion in 2014 and reached $1.5 trillion in 2015. There has been a gain of 155 percent since 2000. By 2019, the Selig Center for Economic Growth estimates that Hispanics will account for 10.6 percent of total U.S. buying power. The Art of Understanding They say that science and numbers don't lie. So why are businesses – espe- cially in the grocery industry – still challenged to truly understand and properly market to the Hispanic con- sumer? As the Senior Vice President of Operations for Nogales Produce, a lead- ing nationwide distributor of Mexican produce, Hispanic grocery dry goods and restaurant supplies, as well as a leading consultancy specializing in con- necting businesses with the Hispanic market, I have learned that when it comes to the art of connecting with the Hispanic market, the grocery industry and all businesses must look through a cultural lens to understand Hispanic consumers' needs. For instance, a 2014 Nielsen study found that Hispanics place a high value on fresh foods. It also revealed that Hispanics spend on the average $175 more than the national average on fresh foods per year. Why fresh foods? According to the study, Hispanics found fresh foods to be an indicator of quality and health. A 2013 study conducted by the No gales P ro duce (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) NDP Group, a leading global marketing information and advisory services firm, found that Hispanics in the U.S. are more likely to purchase groceries, dairy items and bread from c-stores than non- Hispanics. The study also revealed that U.S. Hispanics, on average, make almost two more visits per month than non-Hispanics to major chain conven- ience stores. The NDP study also cor- roborated the Nielsen study regarding the Hispanic consumers' desire for fresh food. Connecting with the Hispanic Consumer Market: A True Art Form Businesses have to become better at the art of truly understanding the Hispanic consumers' culture which helps define their buying habits. Even the big guys still get it wrong. CNN Latino, the network's Spanish language programming venture, failed. NBCLatino.com shut down. They did not fold because CNN and NBC did not understand the numbers. They failed because on some level they couldn't con- nect with the Hispanic market. In order to succeed in connecting with the Hispanic consumer, businesses have to look close- ly through a cultural lens with precise accuracy to truly understand their cus- tomers' needs. At Nogales Produce, we know how important it is to turn that into an art form. Visit Nogales Produce in booth #1354. For more information, call 214.275.3550, email albert.rodriguez@nogalesproduce.com or visit www.nogalesproduce.com. Europe's first and fastest growing potato brand. The potatoes are grown first, and most importantly, for their great flavor. They are also consistent in quality and incredibly versatile – they bake, roast, mash and fry. The Rooster starts pink, but bakes golden brown, with a light yellow fluffy flesh. Their flavor and versatility have made them 70 percent of all the table potatoes sold in Ireland. PSD: Why are they different? DC: Quite simply, because they taste good! Unlike some other potato varieties, they do not need to be loaded with other products like cheese and sour cream. Our Rooster potatoes are great as a main fea- ture or side dish in any meal. Our packaging is very distinctive and signals consumers to a bank of recipes, as well as allowing them to visit our website and see where the products A lbert B artlett (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) are grown. PSD: How are you marketing them? DC: We have recently run a full media campaign, with TV and radio advertising, along with press and in-store promotions to drive brand awareness and consumer trial. Being based in Denver, we also run the culinary stage at Taste of Colorado and sponsor the Denver Broncos. We have recently been featured in Rachael Ray magazine and are in Oprah's trend list for the Top 5 'must try' produce products. PSD: How can readers find out more? DC: Either visit our website – www.albertbartlett.com, or contact me directly – david.cross@albertbartlett.com. For more information, visit www.albert bartlett.com. sale items based on previous purchases. These tools can also be used to suggest items for purchase that are not on sale but are relevant to the shopper. It's important to remember that some alerts are viewed as intrusive by customers, so limit notifi- cations and make sure they're useful. Push notifications, such as a coupon for the next time the customer shops at your store, are a great way to foster loyalty and keep shoppers coming back. Curbside Notification Create a seamless curbside pickup process for customers who order items online. Provide customers with a text or an email when their order is com- plete instead of an "estimated time frame," so they know exactly when their item is ready. When customers arrive for pickup, they can respond via text saying, "I'm here." Alternately, beacons at each designated parking spaces can send notification via the store app directly to the associate gath- ering that customer's product. SMS text technology and two-way radios allow retailers to provide real-time service at the point of pickup. Customers are able to save time and Ex perience center (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) leave feeling delighted. Digital Shopping Journey Technology like queue management systems and motion-sensor cameras shorten time spent in check out lines. Instead of waiting for an associate to notice the lines are too long and call in back up, this technology ensures cus- tomers never have to wait long to check out – a key part to keeping them coming back. Smart cameras can also assist with loss prevention to ensure managers are on top of everything that is happen- ing on the sales floor. When you stay a step ahead of the shopper, you can orchestrate their experience for them. Combining each of these pieces is critical in transforming your store into an experi- ence center. By linking in-store tools with customer data, you can create an ideal omnichannel journey for your in-store customers. With the right technology, proper training for associates and employ- ee access to customer data, that personal- ized, efficient shopping experience will position you far ahead of the competition. For more information, go to www.lnl systems.com, email info@lnlsystems.com or call 877.456.5797. viruses, parasites, yeasts, molds and fungi. These biological hazards all have one thing in common in order to grow and survive: food. They all need proteins and carbohydrates (sugars and starches). One method of controlling the growth and survival of these pathogen microor- ganisms is to eliminate their food source of proteins and carbohydrates. The BRITE BELT conveyor belt cleaning and conditioning system is designed to mechanically and chemically remove biofilm from flat conveyor belt surfaces. Biofilm found on conveyor belts used in food processing is com- posed of multiple pathogen microorgan- isms living in a slime and fed by particles of the foods being processed. The BRITE BELT scrubber pad breaks up the biofilm and allows the "killer" chemical to reach the pathogen microorganisms as well as remove residual food debris. B R I TE B ELT (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) The BRITE BELT conveyor belt cleaning and conditioning system has ben- efits beyond food safety. The cleaning and sanitizing solution is metered through ori- fices which control the amount of chemical usage and apply the chemical continuous- ly where needed. The pad attached to the system does not contain aluminum or pumice, and therefore will not scratch the conveyor belt surface. This allows the scrubber unit to be left on the surface of the belt for longer periods of time to destroy pathogens. The BRITE BELT system does these tasks without incurring significant labor costs. Once in place, those elements necessary to control biological hazards which include time, cleaning and sanitiz- ing solution, and mechanical removal of bio-films are done without labor costs. Labor cost also include savings of benefits, payroll taxes, workmen's compensation and other related payroll expenses. Visit BRITE BELT at booth #2443. AMERIFRESH DELIVERS CONSISTENT QUALITY Amerifresh provides fresh fruits and veg- etables of the highest quality, not only to foodservice customers, but also to the highly demanding retail grocery industry. Environmental variables such as inclement weather, water shortages, pest infestations and import irregularities that disrupt and corrupt the availability of top quality fruits and vegetables make con- sistent supply a top issue in the produce business. Quality and consistency have a direct bearing on the reputation and repeat business of customers. Amerifresh offers a reliable and consistent supply of produce that does not sacrifice quality and is not vulnerable to seasonal scarci- ties. At Amerifresh, this level of consis- tency and reliability rests on the shoul- ders of quality assurance inspectors who are in the field every day examining what is available locally, nationally and inter- nationally to match up customer needs with the currently available supply. Leveraging experience and relationships with grower sources, Amerifresh serves as representatives in the field to bring reli- able supplies of produce to customers. If it does not meet the customers' specifica- tions and standards, then it does not pass the Amerifresh quality assurance inspec- tion. The Amerifresh team meets expecta- tions, every time. Consistent quality, regardless of the season, combined with global purchasing power and strict adher- ence to safety standards make Amerifresh the best choice for produce needs. At Amerifresh, flexibility and pur- chasing power provide the value customers rely on. Amerifresh operates sales offices throughout the country to provide convenience and availability. Its field sales associates are in direct contact with growers through procurement operations. Proximity to the farm results in a more knowledgeable, educated sales team. Living in and around the growing area, plus an export sales office in Fresno, California, give Amerifresh's team the market intelli- gence needed to forecast future markets. For more information, go online at www.amerifresh.com.