Fresh herbs are a staple in modern grocery baskets. As consumers increasingly seek out fresh, natural ingredients, the fresh herbs market is experiencing significant growth. According to Grand View Research, the global fresh herbs market was valued at $5.87 billion in 2024 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2030. That surge isn’t surprising, given the trend toward health-conscious eating.
For grocers, these trends present both an opportunity and a challenge. How can you effectively merchandise fresh herbs to meet consumer demand and drive sales? The answer lies in strategic display solutions that enhance product visibility, maintain freshness and streamline restocking. When it comes to fresh herbs, one out-of-stock can derail the entire recipe—and substitutions are tricky.
Maximizing Fresh Herb Displays
While fresh herbs can be quite popular with shoppers, they can be challenging for retailers. Improper handling, storage and display can lead to shrink due to the extremely short shelf life of many herbs. Effective in-store merchandising of fresh herbs requires a focus on organization, accessibility and product integrity to sell more and waste less. Here are some strategies to consider:
- Optimize Visibility: Ensure that fresh herbs are displayed at eye level and in well-lit areas to attract customer attention.
- Maintain Freshness: Use display systems that support proper airflow and humidity control to keep herbs vibrant and extend shelf life.
- Streamline Restocking: Implement display solutions that make it easy to rotate stock and minimize handling, preserving product quality.
- Reduce Shrink: Enforce FIFO to ensure oldest herbs that are closer to their expiration date are sold before newer products with longer shelf life, reducing shrink.
Retail Space Solutions offers a range of products designed to enhance the presentation and management of fresh herbs:
- SpaceGrid® II: This system provides a sleek, organized display that keeps products front-facing and easily accessible, reducing shrink and improving the shopping experience.
- SpaceGrid® DoubleSpace®: Ideal for accommodating various package sizes, SpaceGrid DoubleSpace allows for flexible merchandising, enabling grocers to display multiple herb varieties efficiently.
- SpaceGrid® Shelf: This versatile shelf system integrates seamlessly with existing fixtures, offering a clean and organized presentation that highlights the freshness of the herbs.
By incorporating these solutions, grocers can create an inviting herb section that not only meets consumer expectations but also enhances operational efficiency.
Improving the overall produce department experience can also contribute to increased herb sales. Consider strategies such as cross-merchandising herbs with complementary items like tomatoes or mozzarella cheese, offering recipe suggestions, and providing samples to engage customers. For more insights, refer to our article on improving the produce department experience.
As the demand for fresh herbs continues to grow, grocers have a prime opportunity to boost sales by optimizing their herb displays. By focusing on visibility, freshness and efficient restocking, and by leveraging innovative display solutions from Retail Space Solutions, grocers can create shopping experiences that delights customers and drives profitability.