“The easiest products to sell are those products that consumers want to buy” said Cathy Strange who is the global cheese buyer for the Whole Foods Market Company of Austin Texas. Cathy presented to a large group audience at the recent WI cheese Industry Conference in Madison. She was talking about how consumers are demanding more and more organic and GMO free products in the Whole Foods chain of stores. Strange said just a few years ago Whole Foods offered 400 organic products and today they offer 4000.
As far as producers go Strange says that the consumers are more likely to pay more for products if they understand the cost of production is higher as well. so telling your story and letting consumers know why and how your animals are treated is very important. Stange says that when her company polled average consumers animal welfare was the most important issue behind environmental stewardship.
Consumers that frequent there stores on average are younger or considered “millennials”, these consumers seem to spend more money on food as they seem to put quality food and quality eating experiences as a premium as appose to buying new cars and fancy clothes. Fear and trust seems to be what is driving the consumers towards the organic and non GMO products because the trace-ability of the products as those markets are smaller and the producers are easier to “trust” as Strange says.
Learn more by listening to the Interview Bryant had with Cathy Strange of Whole Foods by clicking on the link below
