Grocers: get your gift baskets ready!
Gift Baskets will help you feature items from every department in your store. Assembled creatively, they will catch the eye of many harried consumers.
It's that time of the year again, when the holiday music would have you believe that everything is snow covered, merry and bright, but for the grocery business, things are hectic, hectic, hectic! Long hours are a given, but so are profits, which make all of the long lines and stress worthwhile. The months of November and December are host to several festive holidays, like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Eid ul-Fitr, Christmas and New Year's Eve. All of these holidays mean lots of food and gifts.

During this time of year, most items will sell themselves, but you can help to boost sales by clever cross merchandising, and providing helpful and convenient products, like gift baskets and party trays. Your store can prepare both gift baskets and party trays ahead for point-of-purchase sales, and allow for special orders, too. The flexibility is a great way to increase your revenue and customer satisfaction, which is very important for repeat sales and loyalty.

Gift baskets offer a wealth of creative combinations, allowing you to feature items from nearly every department in your store. Here are some ideas:

  • The Gourmet Chef: include marinades, spices, bread mixes and seasonings. Haddon House anchovy paste and capers, along with Jane's Krazy Mixed up Salt are great additions. Add a kitchen item, like an apron, or a pot holder for a nice touch.
  • The Athlete: sports bars, vitamins, trail mix, energy drinks are perfect for this basket. Add a sports magazine, headband or wrist band.
  • The Spa: include bubble baths, high-end soaps, a loofah, foot pumice stone, and lotions.
  • Coffee Lover: include gourmet coffees, a few high end chocolates, biscotti, a mug and an attractive book on the history of coffee.
  • Tea Lover: include different flavored teas, mugs, jams, shortbread cookies, crackers, Medford Farms Apple and Pear Butters.
  • Kids of All Kinds: Use your imagination, but candy, boxed juices, crayons, a coloring book make a great start to a treat kids will love.
  • The Pet Lover: include treats for pets, toys, and a picture frame.
  • Organic: Almost anything goes here; you can make it an organic confection basket and load it up with sweet treats. Or consider the organic baker: include organic flours, sugars, spices, etc.
  • The Picnic: pack a bottle of sparkling juice, two wine glasses, napkins, paper plates, nuts, crackers, non-perishable cheeses and sausages.
  • The Wine Basket: include wine (if your store sells it), wine glasses, stemware charms, olives, crackers, cheeses.
  • Mixed Drink: think along the lines of a particular party beverage. For example, a margarita gift basket should include a couple of margarita glasses, salt, limes, margarita mix.
  • Ethnic cooking baskets: There are a world of possibilities here! For an Asian basket, add soy sauce, rice, ginger root, chopsticks; for a Mexican basket, include salsa, jarred hot peppers, chili powder, tortilla chips; for an Italian basket, add olive oil, pasta, vinegars; for a Caribbean-themed basket, include Tropical Pepper hot sauces, rice, coconut milk, canned pineapple.
  • Meal accompaniments: pack olives, peppers, pignolia nuts, pickled asparagus; include an attractive small plate or bowl and toothpicks.
  • Gourmet desserts: add chocolate sauce, fruit sauce, maraschino cherries, nuts, powdered sugar, sprinkles, and an attractive dessert plate or bowl.
  • The Gardener: include seeds, or small plants, gloves, a cute flower pot, a book on gardening and hand lotion.
  • Fondue: Fondue is making a comeback! Include the pot, a set of forks, some sterno, a recipe book, some chocolate and small cakes or biscuits to dip.
There are a multitude of possibilities, which will appeal to many patrons, of all backgrounds. The holiday season usually means long lines at the grocery store - not a lot of fun for anyone - but by offering gift baskets, it helps your customers get their gift shopping done, all in one place! You might want to consider a "Build-Your-Own" basket program, too, so your patrons can custom build baskets for people on their shopping lists. Be sure - no matter how you decide to structure your gift basket area - to include lots of other helpful holiday items, like wrapping paper, bows, wreaths, candles and more! It's a great way to boost your sales!

Offering party trays to your customers is a great way to bring together the creative minds in your bakery and deli departments, for some beautiful and tasty platters. Your patrons will love the convenience! Don't just offer cold cuts, cheese and rolls (though that will likely be the bulk of your sales); think of your store's other products. A Middle Eastern themed tray will be popular, loaded with feta, pita, hummus, olives, and a store-made couscous or tabouli salad. Offer some dessert trays, showcasing some of the best items of your bakery. A veggie platter, made with local and/or organic produce, along with some dips and cheese, is a sure crowd pleaser as well! Shrimp rings are also perfect for the holiday season, since people will have a lot of get-togethers, and everyone enjoys the special foods they don't normally eat.

Your store might want to offer prepared holiday meals, too, for people who are very busy, or don't cook, or who might not have a large family. Traditional items like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables and gravies are sure sellers, but it might be a good idea to offer some vegetarian and low fat options as well for your vegetarian customers or those with dietary restrictions.

The holidays provide a large influx of customers, and also offer a lot of ways to make your sales soar! If you need more information, be sure to contact your Haddon House sales representative. Also, be sure to consult our Holiday and Kosher catalogs, two publications filled with great ideas for holiday promotions!

Photos by Dena O'Hara.