Unitas launches new category advice plans

Wholesaler sets retailers up for seasonal snack success with two focus on guides

Unitas Wholesale has launched two new category guides for Crisps, Snacks and Nuts and Big Night In, which are available now from selected members and online.

Focus On Crisps, Snacks & Nuts explores which areas of the market are in growth and where the biggest opportunities are. It also provides consumer insight, such as revealing that ‘price’ is still the second biggest reason for making a particular purchase, ranking below ‘flavour’. Retailers can also make use of the guide’s planograms to ensure they are giving multipacks, sharing, nuts, popcorn, dips, and premium lines the appropriate space in store.

Meanwhile, Focus On Big Night In explores the changing ways that shoppers are enjoying nights in and focusses on the three biggest categories – Crisps & Snacks, Confectionery and Soft Drinks. The guides explore bestsellers and ranging advice.

“Autumn is a key time for cashing in on the big-night-in shopper mission, as well as snacking, so these timely guides will be sure to help retailers drive their sales," said said Tracey Redfearn, Head of Marketing and Communications. "The crisps & snacks market is growing by 14 per cent in symbols & independents , making it a great time for retailers to focus on their ranging.”

Five takeaways from Focus On Crisps, Snacks & Nuts

1. Sharing price-marked packs, singles, nuts, and meat snacks are the four key areas that are in growth. These segments represent the biggest opportunities for retailers.
2. Flavour is the number-one reason that shoppers buy a particular brand. This reason is the only one to come above "price", indicating retailers don’t always have to drive down on cost to grow sales. Offering exciting new flavours can also keep tills ringing.
3. Shoppers socialising at home is boosting sharing bags. Sharing bags, and in particular price-marked sharing bags, are the biggest-selling segment of the market. Price-marked packs contribute most of the growth for independent retailers.
4. Walkers, Quavers, Cheetos, Doritos and Nik-Naks are present in the top five bestsellers. Retailers should make sure they’re stocking as many of the bestselling brands as space allows.
5. Retailers should merchandise single crisps & snacks according to need state. This means stocking hearty ‘hunger fill’ options on the top shelf, core range products in the middle and value bags at the bottom.

Four ways to grow sales from Focus on Big Night In

1. Focus on fixture. Dedicated fixtures and promotional offers that make shopping easy are a good way to drive impulse purchases with shoppers more likely to visit their local store if they offer themed promotions.
2. Cross category promotion. Encourage trial and boost cross-category buying among shoppers by positioning nuts and crisps in the beers, wines and spirits aisle for example.
3. Interruption. Window posters and shelf barkers are great ways to catch a shopper's eye on the path to purchase and encourage impulse sales.
4. Secondary display. Retailers should implement more than one site of best-sellers at high-footfall areas of the store. Displays unlock further purchases with 53 per cent of impulse crisps & snacks picked up in secondary locations.

Accessing Plan for Profit guides

• Printed copies of the new guides are available in selected Unitas Wholesale member depots.
• An online version of the guides can be accessed at planforprofit.co.uk and via the Plan for Profit app, which is available to download on apple and android devices