A&P Taps IRI for Perishables Intel

MONTVALE, N.J. -- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. here has chosen the IRI Retail Practice and the IRI Perishable Service for insights into its perishables departments. The service integrates the IRI PlusSuite insights visualization solution with accurate and timely scanner-based perishables sales information from IRI and the FreshLook Marketing Group to deliver information to help the retailer effectively compete in the perishables space.

Under the new partnership, A&P will leverage a perishables insights database to create and measure retail success in its fresh meat and seafood, deli meat, deli cheese, deli prepared, produce, and in-store bakery departments. This information will permit A&P to compare its perishable performance with local competition for the first time, resulting in a significant competitive advantage.

Additionally, A&P will be able to incorporate IRI syndicated store data with the Perishable Service for a better picture of total store performance. Ultimately, the grocer will be able to benchmark performances, tweak marketing strategies, and alter its retail merchandising activities midstream to maximize category performance, said the parties to the deal.

"The addition of the perishable information to our syndicated data allows us to better implement our stated strategies," said A&P v.p. of pricing and consumer research Bob James in a statement.

Perishable products make up 30 percent of all supermarket food sales and play an increasingly important role in retailer image and competitive positioning. The IRI Perishable Service provides accurate insights for produce, fresh meat and seafood, in-store deli and bakery, and bulk food categories.

A&P operates 403 stores under eight retail banners, including conventional supermarkets, food-and-drug combination stores, and discount food stores.

FreshLook Marketing Group provides scanner-based information on the sales of perishable products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, deli cheese and meats, deli prepared foods, fresh meat and seafood, in-store bakery items, and bulk foods. With data provided by IRI from 17,000 supermarkets, the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based firm supplies marketing information and category management support tools to shippers, growers, producers, vendors, consultants, and retailers.

Chicago-based IRI is the top global provider of enterprise market information solutions and services. Serving the consumer packaged goods, retail, and health care industries, the company provides a unique combination of real-time market content, advanced analytics, enterprise performance management software, and professional services.
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