Oct 20, 2016

Sprouts named Pear Retailer of the Year

On the show floor of the 2016 PMA Fresh Summit, USA Pears presented Sprouts Farmers Markets Produce Warehouse with the 2016 Pear Retailer of the Year award for their pear category improvements in merchandising performance and sales increase.

“On behalf of nearly 1,600 fresh pear growers of Washington and Oregon,” said Kevin Moffitt Pear Bureau Northwest CEO, “we congratulate the Sprouts produce team and appreciate their effort in building a strong pear category.”

Sprouts follows best practices for increased pear category sales recommended by USA Pears, including displaying two green pear varieties at once. Additionally, they promote multiple pear varieties, carry two sizes of top selling varieties, increase impulse purchases through in-store sampling, allocate valuable front of store space to pear displays, and train personnel to improve category knowledge.

“All of these tactics over the whole season add up to great category performance,” said Moffitt.

Training is a major concern among produce managers and Sprouts is open to opportunities for their staff to learn from experts, according to the Pear Bureau Northwest.

“The NW Pear Bureau has provided us updated regular crop estimates, promotional timing and direction/suggestions with opportunities that increase basket size all of which have been extremely beneficial in our continued success,” said Chad Miller, Sprouts vice president of procurement. Miller accepted the award on behalf of the company.

This year, USA Pears also recognizes Costco Wholesale, Publix Super Markets, Defense Commissary Agency, Giant Eagle, Inc., Tops Friendly Markets and WalMart Stores as 2016 Pear Category Leaders.

The Pear Retailer of the Year Award was established by Pear Bureau Northwest in 2011. Past honorees were Demoula’s Market Basket (2011), Meijer (2012), Ingles (2013), Publix Markets (2014) and Wegmans (2015). The Pear Bureau’s team of regional marketing managers selects the annual recipient based on sales performance, creativity, and best practices in pear merchandising, and overall excellence in supporting the pear category.