USPB Tests Retail Best Practices Abroad

The United States Potato Board has begun partnering with international retail companies to test potato category best practices in an effort to prove or disapprove that U.S. retail best practices do work in an international retail chain.

USPB International Marketing Manager Sarah Reece says that the USPB partnered with Carrefour in Taiwan to determine if providing additional information on packaging would influence potato purchases. Reece shares more details

Reece: "The packaging tests that we conducted were held in 66 Carrefour retail outlets. During the test period, U.S. potato leaflets were placed in the potato bag. Leaflets included variety information, nutrition and usage ideas. During the four-week test period, volume potatoes sales increased by 6.4 percent and dollar sales for U.S. potatoes increased by 5.8 percent as compared to year ago sales. This test did proved that potato sales are increased by including preparation tips, usage ideas and recipes as well as nutrition information in packaging. This year the US Potato Board will continue to partner with retailers to develop new tactics to help increase sales by a greater percentage during promotions as well as non-promotional periods."