5 Merchandising Tips to Boost Coca-Cola (& Soda) Sales

Visual merchandising plays a crucial role in boosting sales for products like Coca-Cola in independent grocery stores. These best practices will aid in boosting soda sales, which is especially important in the final months of the Coca-Cola Olympic Trip Giveaway, where retailers have a chance to win a trip for two to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. 

1. Strategic Product Placement

• Position Coca-Cola products in high-traffic areas of the store, such as near the entrance or checkout lanes. Consider creating eye-catching displays at the end of aisles to grab shoppers' attention.
• Place complementary products, like snacks or party supplies, alongside Coca-Cola to encourage cross-merchandising. For example, display Coca-Cola next to chips and dips for weekend gatherings.
• Remember meal occasions. Place individual bottles or cans of Coca-Cola and Smartwater in the deli next to grab and go, hot bars, salad bars, etc. 

2. Eye-Catching Displays

• Create visually appealing displays using Coca-Cola branding elements. Use Coca-Cola's iconic red and white color scheme and logo prominently.
• Consider using themed displays for special occasions or holidays (for example, see what some IGA stores did for last year's AHAlidays Display Contest) to create a sense of urgency and relevance.

AHAlidays displays at Scaff's IGA Branford and Wright's Market IGA (left to right).

3. Effective Signage and Messaging

• Use clear and persuasive signage to communicate offers and promotions. Highlight any discounts, bundle deals, or limited-time offers prominently.
• Use shelf talkers, price tags, and aisle banners with compelling copy to reinforce the value of Coca-Cola products and encourage purchases.

4. Temperature Control

• Ensure that Coca-Cola beverages are stored at the ideal temperature to maximize their appeal. Cold beverages are more tempting, so invest in refrigerated displays or end-cap coolers.
• Use digital thermometers or temperature-sensitive signage to indicate that Coca-Cola products are chilled and ready to enjoy.
• Cater your ambient, or room-temperature, displays to the product. For example, Smartwater and Powerade perform well in ambient settings and do not need to be refrigerated for strong sales. 

5. Interactive and Engaging Elements

• Incorporate interactive elements, such as sampling stations or digital displays, to engage shoppers. Allow customers to taste different Coca-Cola products or suggest recipes that include Coca-Cola as an ingredient (see Coca-Cola ham and Coca-Cola kebabs)
• Encourage user-generated content by setting up a social media wall where customers can share their Coca-Cola experiences.

Remember to regularly update your visual merchandising displays to keep them fresh and appealing to customers. Additionally, gather feedback from store managers and customers to fine-tune your merchandising strategies and adapt to changing preferences and trends in your target market.