As the winner of the Most Beautiful Fruit and Vegetable Department 2022 Competition, Consentio took the opportunity to take a closer look at the job of department managers. “Responsible for the supply, presentation and performance of their department, these managers need to use organizational, management, reactivity and creative skills on a daily basis. They also deal with a wide range of information in real time such as market, consumption, environmental and economic context,” explains Benoit Motais, manager France at Consentio.
How to fight inflation
A well managed department should meet the direct and indirect needs of consumers. “In the current context and with the decline in purchasing power, guaranteeing a range of quality, attractive and affordable products is essential to encourage the consumption of fresh produce,” explains Benoit Motais.
According to Steven Michel, who works for E.Leclerc in St Nazaire, “inflation is clearly affecting sales and consumption, but it also creates a challenge for department managers to organize their purchases.” His approach to this situation has been to offer local and seasonal products, inspire consumers by presenting them with alternatives, and to inform them (uses, recipes, conservation) in order to enhance the value of the products and limit the losses. As the department manager, Steven orchestrates all these operations in collaboration with the upstream part of the chain.
Short interview with Steven Michel about his department and his work
The importance of presentation
Often the highlight of the store, the fruit and vegetable department must be lively, colorful and full of fragrance to attract visitors. “Various presentations are created according to sporting or seasonal events, for example, as a way to encourage consumption, promote the products and enhance the value of the category, especially among children, an audience that is particularly sensitive to the sometimes spectacular decorations and staging on the shelves.”
A widely followed 2022 competition
In 2022, more than 250 stores participated in the event, during which fruit and vegetables were honored in three categories: Apples, Halloween and Autumn vegetables. Between September 29th and December 5th, more than 900 displays were shared, generating more than 800,000 reactions on social networks. A great opportunity for department managers and their teams to let their imagination run wild, inspire their colleagues and make consumers dream.
Steven Michel and his team at E.Leclerc in St Nazaire won first prize in the competition for the most beautiful fruit and vegetable department (Autumn Vegetables category)
Consentio's contribution
Aware of today’s challenges, Consentio offers adapted digital solutions at different levels of the value chain, which are very easy to use from any device. “We facilitate the daily life of department managers to organize their purchases and communicate with suppliers directly. By providing more visibility on the offer available to them, on product data and commercial interactions, we encourage quick and impactful decisions, allowing department managers to concentrate on other facets of their job.”
For more information:
Benoit Motais
Consentio
Phone: +33 6 42229998
[email protected]
https://fr.consentio.co/
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