Food industry professionals joined Western Michigan University students Tuesday to begin a two day conference on all things food. They’re talking about everything from consumer trends to new tech to innovation.
WMU Food Marketing Director Russell Zwanka says Kroger and Meijer lead the country in understanding who their customer is and tailoring the shopping experience.
“They do a fantastic job of encouraging you to buy the next one for 40% off,” Zwanka said. “It’s throughout the store and it works because if you’re going to eat pecans twice in the next month, then you might as well get the second bag for 40% off. I study this all the time and I always say they get me every single time.”
Other talking points include the recent changes to self-checkout policies across the country and the surge in health trends.
