Publisher: Supermarket News
Published: October 1, 2026
Source: Read at Supermarket News (https://www.supermarketnews.com/bakery/a-one-size-does-not-fit-all-approach-to-in-store-bakery-merchandising)
Category: Food Access
Elias Lara, director of bakery for The Save Mart Companies, said bakery assortments should reflect each store's shopper group, available space and local demand. He said stores need enough variety to make departments feel full and inviting without adding products that could hurt rotation and freshness. Lara said bakery teams should use their knowledge of local customers, while also considering premium finished products that are not made in-house. He said effective merchandising connects customer insight, category decisions, skilled store teams, field support and clear execution across different banners and communities.
Why this matters: Independent grocers can use local staff knowledge to shape bakery selections around the needs and occasions of their own shoppers. The article also points to finished products as one way to offer consistency while preserving staff time for specialized bakery work.
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