Here are some Grocery store secrets that you need to know.
1. Fresh fruits and colourful veggies were traditionally placed along the walls of stores. You’ll notice in any new store the produce is right at the front. Studies show that when shoppers fill their carts with produce, they feel less guilty about purchasing prepackaged, less healthy food.
2. Fresh vegetables are sprayed with water to make them glisten. The water also adds weight to veggies and makes them rot faster. Before you put them into your cart, shake off excess water.
3. Ready-to-eat food costs more. For example, shredded cheese costs 30 to 60 per cent more than the solid block of cheese you grate yourself. Save money by selecting loose produce instead of buying pre-bagged produce.
4. Over the past few years, shopping carts nearly doubled in size and consumers are spending about 19 per cent more to fill the cart.
5. The beat of music in supermarkets is often slower than our own heartbeat. An easy-listening tempo causes us to move slowly. You’ll speed up your shopping time if you wear headphones connected to a device playing music with an upbeat tempo.
6. Know your prices. Bulk foods are sometimes sold at higher prices than packaged foods.
7. If you look at the packaging on fresh fish, you might find the words “Previously Frozen,” which means it was frozen and then thawed. Frozen grocery store fish is cheaper and often fresher than so-called “fresh” fish in a grocery store.
8. The most expensive grocery items are placed at eye level. Look higher or lower on shelves for better deals. However, items such as sugary cereal are displayed on lower shelves to grab the attention of children.
9. Ever notice that grocery stores have no clocks? Any windows are situated beyond the check-out counters. Stores are banking on your losing track of time and purchasing more.
10. Shelf ends appear to offer sales or special promotions, but the truth is that manufacturers pay big bucks for end-of-aisle position and the savings may be non-existent.
11. Staples such as milk, eggs and butter are usually spread around the store perimeter and located at the back or sides of the store, causing you to walk through the entire store to pick up items.
Stick to your list and avoid impulsively adding other merchandise to the cart.
12. Some stores now have TV screens at the checkout. This causes you to view store ads and distracts you from your purchases.
13. Studies show that Wednesday is the best day of the week to shop. There are fewer people in the store and many retailers begin their sales mid-week. Research shows that Saturday shoppers buy more when surrounded by crowds of people.
14. Stores pair items such as salsa and taco chips, dip and veggies or honey and tea. You might view this as a nice convenience, but it’s actually subtle manipulation, giving you the impetus to buy two items instead of one.
15. Don’t shop when you’re hungry.
Looking to the future: Underneath the floors of supermarkets around the world, subtle speed bumps are being installed. These bumps cause shoppers to slow down without even realizing it, and to stop to browse shelves.
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