As the number of grocery buyers shrinks because of consolidation of buying departments, access becomes more challenging. This is also the case in the distribution and brokerage segments of the industry, and, to a lesser degree, in the foodservice field. Category Management, Production Capacity and Opportunities Supermarkets and wholesale food distribution companies continue to focus on category management to increase profitability. With the increasing size of buying groups and private label busines s, Canadian suppliers need to recognize that production capacity for mainstream grocery products is a major issue. The best advice is, simply, to ensure production quantities can be realistically achieved.
Buyers take a dim view of unmet purchase orders.
Smaller order sizes and minimal slotting and other promotional fees provide smaller scale suppliers with promising export opportunities in the American Southwest. Home meal replacement items have not yet established themselves as a category, but most sales are most likely part of the grocery category.