Making a difference with produce: well aware that the quality of fruits and vegetables strongly influences where people shop, retailers are turning to private label produce to help them stand out from their competitors and boost shopper loyalty

Grocery Headquarters, November, 2004 by Megan Pellegrini

In today's competitive retail environment, the need to differentiate is paramount. Private brand development can be a key driver of retailers' ability to set themselves apart. As consumers embrace more value-added fruit and vegetable items, look for retailers to offer more store-branded produce.

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Initially, retailers launched private label efforts in the produce department based on their core items: bagged salads, bagged potatoes, carrots and a few other varieties. Now private label offerings have expanded to include premium quality, multiple SKUs of bagged salads, spinach and cut vegetables, fresh-cut fruit, summer tree fruit, bagged potatoes and onions, regular and baby carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms and numerous fresh commodity items...