If you’ve been reading our newsletters and we sure hope you have, you’ll notice gourmet foods is often a topic we discuss.
As I’ve mentioned gourmet food is a very broad category from chocolates to chutney to nuts and even jerky. In this month’s newsletter, we are going to explore the organic side of gourmet foods.
Consumers Are Willing To Pay More For Gourmet and Organic Foods
Gourmet foods tend to denote expensive. Add in organic made and the price assumption may be even higher. As a retailer you may have strayed away from organic gourmet food because of the assumption of a higher price.
Organic gourmet foods may seem higher priced, but a consumer sees natural, no preservatives and fresh goods, and equates this to being a better product and worth the expense. And to settle your worry about prices, market research publisher Packaged Facts* notes that 30% of consumers are willing to pay more for gourmet foods.
Organic Gourmet Foods Can Be Comfort Foods
Since prices aren’t an issue, let’s look at reasons why organic gourmet foods are profit makers for retail shops. We already know that consumers will pay an extra 30% for gourmet foods. Even in these rough economic times people are clinging to comfort foods, but how does organic gourmet food equate to comfort food?
Comfort comes in the feeling one gets as they eat. For the health conscience, they are going to seek out organic foods that are delicious. They want healthy, natural, and organic foods that are flavorful and delectable. Fortunately over the years, the organic and natural food selections have expanded into a variety of options.
One such option is jerky. In fact, beef jerky is one of the items that organic, health conscience consumers are going to purchase. Why? Beef jerky is a good source of protein without all the fat; it is a healthy low calorie snack. So, it fills the comfort need and the organic wholesome health conscience need, as well.
As people are more apt to stay home and not go out for meals, they are cooking their comfort meals with organic specialty foods. The grocery store is no longer the only place consumer purchase their specialty foods. This gives retailers a great opportunity.
With the vast selection of specialty and snack foods, you can choose the right organic gourmet foods that will your niche market. For example, one particularly trendy specialty food is barbeque.
Barbeque is a huge comfort food for many Americans. Eating barbeque out for a family can run close to a hundred dollars when you include a tip.
With a $6 jar of specialty barbeque sauce, home cooks can make their barbeque at home a dining experience that comforts their pocket book, as well as their needs for great tasting food.
Gourmet Food Displays and Samples Are A Must
Organic gourmet food must be displayed just like any other product. You need to let your customers know why this organic product is the gift they need to give or to buy for themselves. You can do this by setting up displays and offering samples.
Need ideas on how to display your gourmet foods?
I suggest making at least one day out of the month Gourmet Sampler Day. Why? It gives customers a reason to come to your store once a month and it introduces them to the enticing gourmet foods selections your store has to offer.
Making your sample day a success requires heavy promotion of this day. Send out emails and make counter fliers up to hand out a month prior to your Gourmet Food Sampler Day sale.
It’s like the old Kevin Costner movie says — “Feed them and they will come”. Ok, so it’s a bit different than that, but you’ll find that it rings true and so will your organic gourmet food sales.
If you still are on the fence about carrying organic and natural gourmet food, start out small and test the waters. FGmarket has several gourmet food wholesalers who can help you get started.
*According to Gourmet, Specialty and Premium Foods, Beverages and Consumer Trends in the U.S., 8th Edition
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