5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT GROCERY STORES

5 things you may not know about grocery stores:

1.   Why produce is misted.

The first thing you see when you enter many grocery stores is a colourful wall of fresh produce, sometimes being misted gently. It screams healthy. That wholesome look has been proven to result in $5 to $8 more in sales per visit.

So next time you go into a grocery store save the produce area for last. Start by walking past the cash registers and the rows of chips, candy and treats. I guarantee you will buy less. Nothing kills spending faster than the thought that the last thing your waistline needs is $5 worth of treats.

2.   Why milk is at the back.

Most quick trips to the grocery store are for bread, milk and eggs, so marketers place these items at the back of the store hoping you will walk down an aisle and make an impulse buy. Avoid the temptation — just walk around the perimeter, pick up your bread, milk and eggs and leave.

3.   Always try lower shelves.

If you must walk down an aisle it is easy to buy healthier foods and save money by choosing the foods you have to bend down or stretch up to reach. The shelf space at eye level is aimed at the average Canadian woman who is 5-foot-5. Since women do most of the grocery shopping manufacturers will pay thousands of dollars per store to own that space.

Take the cracker aisle; the least healthy, most expensive crackers are generally on the eye-level shelves. Choose healthier and less expensive crackers by just bending down or stretching up to reach them.

4.      Featured specials aren’t so special.

Be wary of items that are “on special” or “featured” at the front of an aisle. Notice they don’t always say “on sale,” because often times they are not. A “featured” cereal may be exactly the same price as it is in the aisle, just placed in a more prominent spot to increase sales.

5.   Watch for “me too” items.

The front of the aisle is also a favourite spot for what I call “me too” items. A more expensive cereal is “accidentally” placed next to the featured cereal, and only when you get to the checkout do you find out it is more expensive. Most shoppers just keep it rather than go back to change it.

Next time avoid those featured areas.



It may not seem like much but remember, “look after your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” It is often the mundane day-to-day activities like grocery shopping where people are most easily parted from their money.



Tips for Easy Grocery Shopping

Going to the grocery store can sometimes be a daunting experience, so here are some simple tips to make it easy.

1. Make a List

Open-ended shopping should be a thing of the past. Keep focused on lean proteins and good carbs. Perhaps plan by the meal

2. Eat before Shopping

Sure you’ve hard this before, but you buy more if you are hungry… everything will look yummy, especially those sweets! So remember to never shop on an empty stomach

3. Leave the Kids at Home

We know how hard it is to say “no” to the sugary cereals and snacks marketed just to kids, so this is one distraction that is best left behind

4. Map Your Route

Get to know your local grocery store and avoid the aisles that have temptations galore. Go directly to what your list calls for, and bypass the other foods.

5. Shop During Off-Peak Hours

When grocery stores are busy (weekends, Monday evenings) you have to wait in lines, which are packed with snacks and candies. The more time you stand there staring, the more tempted you will be.