29% of shoppers aren’t regularly looking for frozen food items they haven’t purchased before.

Food retailers who are winning in frozen think outside the frozen aisle when creating their frozen food merchandising strategy.

Shoppers are hungry for new flavors and innovative recipe ideas, but they don’t always look for inspiration in the frozen aisles. That means food retailers have the opportunity to showcase frozen solutions for every occasion and daypart, from mealtime to snacktime, in ways that surprise and delight shoppers’ tastebuds.

What This Means for Your Store:

Disruptive merchandising—like adding self-contained frozen displays outside of the frozen aisle—breaks the traditional store flow in a way that grabs attention.

Using this strategy accomplishes two things: It entices shoppers to explore new-to-them products, even when they’re not seeking them out. It also satisfies adventurous shoppers actively searching for exciting alternatives to their regular staples.

Disruptive merchandising does more than just boost basket size by inspiring impulse purchases. When done right, it can elevate your store’s reputation and build shopper loyalty because you’re maximizing convenience and making it easy for shoppers to find delicious, nutritious and cost-effective new products without requiring them to go out of their way.

Do This to Maximize Frozen Merchandising:

• Identify your store’s ideal spots for disruptive frozen merchandising. Look for high-traffic or high-transition zones, like near the checkout lanes, produce department or right inside the store’s entrance.
• Consider your shoppers’ “need states” at these locations and choose products that align with them.
  • Imagine a tired parent stopping into your store after work, trying to answer the age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” They spot a frozen display near your store’s entrance full of frozen heat-and-eat crowd pleasers for the entire family all in one merchandising set: chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, one-pan meals and one or two more sophisticated options tailored to adult palates. Just like that, dinner is solved from appetizers to dessert, and your store is the hero.
  • Add frozen protein merchandising options in various package sizes next to value-add precut vegetables to create a quick, health dinner solution merchandising set.
  • Think of a budget-conscious Gen Z shopper doing their weekly grocery run. They stuck to their list throughout the whole store, but as they approach the checkout, they’re looking for a little treat. That’s when they see the perfect reward in a display featuring low-cost indulgences: frozen mochi ice cream, single-serve frozen lava cakes, mini apple pies. These affordable, delectable luxuries feel like a bonus without breaking the bank, so of course they grab one.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with locations and placements to see where disruptive frozen merchandise is most effective. Shopper patterns change, so be sure to evaluate your placements regularly. Having an easy-to-position, easy-to-move case is essential.

Hillphoenix Solution Spotlight:

CLARITY JNRZHSA R-290 Self-Contained Glass-Door Reach-In

Our flexible and customizable JNRZHSA case is the perfect foundation for disruptive frozen merchandising.

• Easily build and move frozen displays anywhere in your store. With plug-and-play functionality, all you need is an outlet.
• 64” interior merchandising height offers maximum packout with minimal floorspace so you can go longer between restocks, keeping shelves full and aisles clear for shopping.
• Designed to fit through an 80” door opening for easier delivery and installation without requiring a loading dock.
• Choose from a range of options to match your store’s look and feel, including custom colors, finishes, textures and more.

Like all CLARITY cases from Hillphoenix, the JNRZHSA offers a suite of configuration and style options, so you can customize your case for your specific application and merchandising goals.

Explore all CLARITY cases here: https://www.hillphoenix.com/clarity-reach-in-merchandisers/