Changing demographics drive Procacci Brothers to continually research what, how, and where consumers are eating, Maxwell says, to “help our customers win these shoppers over. We can help introduce these items at a low risk to our customers, and work with them to attract shoppers of different ethnic backgrounds.”
CHALLENGES
Mother Nature & Weather
This past winter, just like the one before it, was not so kind to wholesalers, retailers, or restaurants. Levin described it as “horrible,” with excessive snow and ice preventing many from getting to the market and participating in the daily ritual of buying and selling. Losses, even if only from one day, are difficult to take in the perishables industry, with its slim margins. “You never recoup that business,” he laments. “People will shop the next day, but they’re not buying double.”
Maxwell agrees it is an issue, but believes communication is key. “Our ultimate goal is to minimize the disruption and inconveniences,” he explains, “and remain transparent with customers about what’s going on around us.”
RETAILER & RESTAURANT SCENE
Philadelphia’s retail and restaurant landscape is evolving to include more fresh produce options in the urban region, increasing competition and reinventing the fast food and produce markets. Three notable recent developments are Fresh to Order, Everything Fresh, and MOM’s Organic Market.
Philadelphia’s Fresh to Order marks the first in Pennsylvania of the restaurant chain known for quality food available quickly and at an average price point of $10 for soups, salads, and sandwiches. Along with the restaurant’s debut in the summer of 2015, two new supermarkets have made an appearance on the map. Everything Fresh opened an organic specialty store last December, with plans to open seven more locations around Philadelphia ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 square feet, with a mission to provide fresh, organic produce at a good value.
MOM’s Organic Market, opening a 16,000-square foot store in downtown Philadelphia’s East Market redevelopment project, prides itself in environmental responsibility. Not only does the store offer food for a variety of health and environmentally-conscious diets (local and organic meats, sustainable seafood, gluten-free foods, and an all-organic vegetarian eatery), but also offers shoppers a few unusual customer service perks such as free electric car chargers and recycling for light bulbs, batteries, cell phones, and shoes.
Weather woes also affected growers across the country and into Mexico, at times disrupting or slowing supply.
