Bulking Up In October and Beyond

In honor of National Bulk Foods Day on Saturday, Oct. 23, the Bulk is Green Council (BIG) has bulked up its promotional activities. In addition to joining with retailers across the country to promote the occasion, the Portland, Ore.–based association has recently posted two YouTube videos that present the benefits of buying in bulk from the shopper’s perspective.

“Savvy shoppers have been buying food in bulk since the early 1900s because they recognize the eco-friendly, affordable and convenient nature of the practice, noted Clint Landis, chief marketing officer for Norway, Iowa-based Frontier Natural Products Co-Op and a founding BIG member. “We’re hoping to encourage current bulk-food fans to return to the bulk aisle in celebration of National Bulk Foods Day, as well as to get those who have never shopped in bulk to experience the fun and savings.”

To help grocers educate shoppers on bulk items, which include everything from spices to chocolate-covered almonds to rice, BIG offers free in-store point-of-purchase material, as well as consumer tips such as creating a homemade trail mix with the kids, cooking a meal made mostly from bulk foods and comparing the savings, revamping kitchen cabinets with bulk items, and baking from scratch.

For more information on the campaign, contact Landis at [email protected] or (319) 227-7996.