Recognizing Georgia Retail Trends

The big three retailers in Georgia are Kroger, Publix, and Walmart but farmers markets, including the enormous DeKalb Farmers Market near Atlanta, are popular all year. Another facet of industry, meal kits, provided by companies like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Plated, SunBasket, and more recently Amazon, have also become increasingly trendy.

“We’re seeing many more avenues for consumers to buy produce, including meal kits and boxes,” says Matthew Kolinski, deputy director for marketing for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, especially in Atlanta.

Despite these trends, some meal kit companies have reportedly struggled with retention, looking to retailers that do not obligate consumers to subscribe. Hello Fresh is partnering with Giant Foods and Stop and Shop stores in the Northeast, following Blue Apron’s recent move to make its kits available at Costco. How these e-delivery ventures will play out remains to be seen.

This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full article.