At C&F Foods, Inc. we know that the relationship between supplier and retailer is the key to maximum efficiency. Our collaboration with our retail customers extends from exchange of information and data to joint business building. Our retailers' success is our success, which is why we treat each category as a "mini" business recommending new products and new promotional activities that work towards strong store brand positioning. A great way to build and develop more business is to consider a private label or store brand program. When our retail customers are ready to develop a private label C&F is ready every step of the way.

Our category management program is focused on information and allows us to focus on consumption trends of our mutual customers.

1. Category management is a merchandising system that maximizes product sales on retail shelves by breaking products into categories, of like products, focusing on how customers purchase and use the products.
2. Category management is easy to employ:
   
   • It requires changes in your merchandising system
   • It requires organizational commitment
   • It gives each category
     • its own consumer research
     • its own pricing strategies
     • its own performance goals
3. Category management increases your bottom line
   
   More Sales
   • Top-selling products in every shelf, every day
   • Maximum variety through product mix and product categories
   • Full category representation meets more consumer demand
   • Use of top-selling products increases sales per shelf
   • Increased shelf sales results in increased total profits

The "Category Concept"

Products are grouped into similar consumer taste preferences and product characteristics - pinto beans, black beans, mayocoba beans, green split peas, etc.

A greater variety creates greater consumer demand and increased retail sales as more consumers find products they want. Having all of the basic product categories within every shelf is the key to maximizing shelf revenue.

Shelf-space allocation

Shelf on which products are being displayed is an important asset for retailers. Retailers can increase their profit and decrease cost by deciding what type of product is offered for sale to consumers from each shelf. The level of shelf on which the product is displayed has a significant effect on sales.

Shelf space helps retailers analyze whether too much space is being allocated to the top sellers and if other top sellers within categories are given too little space.