On this episode of From the Cold Corner, NFRA Executive Vice President and COO, Tricia Greyshock, and Angela Rosenquist, chief growth officer at InnovAsian Cuisine and chair of the NFRA Promotions Committee, discuss March Frozen Food Month and more.

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), the food trade association representing all segments of the $65.1 billion frozen food industry, and IRI, a fast-growing, global leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and media companies, announced a partnership to provide AFFI members with complimentary access to IRI data on frozen food performance in real-time.

New numbers from NCSolutions for the week ending April 18 support the trend that many cold foods are still selling strong, focusing on frozen food categories in particular. Week-over-week numbers showed a decline in most frozen categories, which NCSolutions attributes to slower Easter weekend shopping when many stores were closed for the holiday.

Refrigerated and frozen foods manufacturers use packaging graphics, text, colors, geometries, internal volumes, clarity, opacity, and ergonomic designs as nuggets of information to persuade consumers that the products they see are safe, will deliver pleasurable eating experiences, and may be enjoyed in specific or universal locations. Fundamentally, packaged messages must communicate to shoppers at the point of sale that there is a reason to believe in a product so that it is wanted.

Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, announced that it has proactively implemented additional safety measures by beginning the installation of protective Plexiglas partitions in all stores. The grocer will also enforce additional social distancing protocols and adhere to stricter store occupancy regulations to further safeguard customers and associates from the spread of COVID-19 in the communities it serves.

SpartanNash has started installing 1,420 36-inch square, clear plexiglass sneeze guards at its 155 corporate-owned retail stores, pharmacies and Quick Stop fuel centers as an added measure of safety for its family of associates and store guests. Every cashier station, deli counter, pharmacy, customer service counter and Quick Stop fuel center checkout will have the added safety measure installed by April 3, 2020.

SpartanNash and its family for retail stores will set aside time twice per week for store guests most at risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19), including older adults, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Reserved hours will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Effective today, Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) is offering a temporary 5% daily discount for senior citizens, through May 5, 2020, in all four banners it operates – Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and FRESH by Brookshire’s. The discount is available to guests age 60 or older with valid ID.