The benefits container farming has for grocery stores might surprise you! From attracting new customers to increasing revenues to keeping people safe, there’s no end to the advantage of a container farm. The Kroger Company knows this too. That’s why it’s adding 15 container farms to some of its stores. In this article, you’ll learn just some benefits of container farming for grocery stores.
7 Benefits of Container Farming for Grocery Stores
1. Attract New Customers
Did you know 58% of consumers seek out locally sourced fruits and vegetables? Container farming lets you grow organic produce for your grocery store onsite. You can’t get any more local than that! When customers can get their fresh locally grown produce from the same store they can get all their other food, they’ll be more likely to shop at your store.
2. Protect Customers
Fresh produce accounts for half of all foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States. By January 15 this year, 167 people had been infected with e. coli by lettuce and other leafy greens. E. coli outbreaks from lettuce are usually due to the lettuce having traces of feces stuck in the leaves. Luckily, when your grocery store grows its own food with a container farm, this isn’t going to happen since you have full control over the growing environment.
3. Sell Premium Produce
Consumers from all age groups are willing to pay more for organic produce. Plus, they’re also more willing to pay more for local foods, mostly because they perceive it as higher quality. When you grow your grocery store’s own food with a container farm, you’re able to sell local organic produce. And this produce is able to have a higher price tag than its imported rivals.
4. Have Consistent Stock
When food is grown outdoors, it’s subject to seasons, natural disasters, unpredictable weather, pest infestations and disease outbreaks. This means harvests aren’t always reliable. Plus, when food has to be shipped, it’s at the mercy of the food supply chain, which can be interrupted by any number of unpredictable events, like pandemics. When you’re supplementing your produce stock with your own freshly grown food, you’ll never have to worry about running out of lettuce again!
5. Join the Sustainability Movement
Container farming uses 90% less water and 100% less soil and pesticides. Since we’re facing widespread water and land shortages, and pesticides are dangerous, container farms are an environmentally friendly choice! This makes your business much more attractive to eco-conscious consumers. Plus, 37% of customers are willing to pay 5% more for sustainably sourced products, so you can charge more too.
6. Add New Revenue
Having a container farm gives you the opportunity to start new money-making endeavors. You can add salad bars, pop-up restaurants and ready-made meals to your grocery store using food from the container farm. As a result, you’ll provide a new service while making extra money! A Whole Foods in Brooklyn already started using a hydroponic farm to make extra money.
7. Expand Produce Selection
A container farm also helps you broaden your selection of produce. Since many herbs don’t travel well, it can be hard to include them in your grocery store selection. With a container farm, you can grow exotic and luxury crops for your customers. With an expanded inventory, you’ll be the go-to for local foodies.
Do you want to make more money by attracting new customers and selling a premium product? You can achieve all that and more by adding a Pure Greens Container Farm to your grocery store. If you’re interested in learning more, visit our website or call 602-753-3469.
