Summer doesn’t officially begin in May, but for many, Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer season. A s we look forward to warm air, longer days, more time outdoors, family vacations and swimming at the beach or pool, it is hard to not get excited about all the great things ahead of us. Each season has its defining elements, and to me, summer is all about quality time with family and friends. In fact, it might even be one of my favorites.
It’s also a busy time for us in-store as customers start soaking up all that the summer months have to offer. During this time, our customers look to our retail partners to satisfy their food and beverage needs. W e have an opportunity to make a lasting impression by creating events for products that are used during happy and memorable moments for families and friends. A customer might have a get-together partially planned, but they rely on us to make that summer picnic, graduation party, barbecue, or other event that much more memorable and special. R esearch has shown that most shopping decisions are made in the store, so we should always aim to get more products – and the right products – into the baskets of our customers.
So far 2012 has been great, and we plan to keep the momentum going for the rest of the year. It is our collective responsibility to do all we can to lift sales for our retailers, and we look to you, our valued teams, to drive this initiative. This month gives us a great opportunity to reach these goals and to support the continued growth of our retail partners. We know that without the support of each and every one of you, this would not be possible. Thank you for your ongoing efforts.
I also want to take a moment to remind you that this newsletter is for you. We want to know what you think, what story ideas you have and how we can continue to improve the Retail News Insider. We value your feedback, so please let us know how we can better serve your needs.
As I visit our various retail partners and walk the stores these next few months, I look forward to hearing your summer stories and fun vacation plans.
Sincerely,
Jeff Engel
Senior Vice President