Why do fruits and vegetables come first in the grocery stores?

Question

Wouldn't it make more sense for them to come last? Think about it, if you go to puy cans, bags of rice, cereal boxes and other heavy stuff, it can crush the fruits and vegies. That has happened to me a few times. Why do you think grocery stores are set up this way?

Answer 1

I've been to lots of grocery stores that didn't have the vegetables first. For the ones that do it the way you are describing, however, they usually have spatial and plumbing issues to consider, too. It is easier to water your fresh vegetables through sprayers, and the pipes for those have to come from somewhere! A wall, in this case, is nice. In any case, why don't you just start on the other side if you don't want your vegetables first?

Answer 2

Well, I think it is because we judge a store not on how perfectly the cans and boxes are arranged, but by how fresh the food looks. By this logic, the first 3 things you should see are fruits and veggies, because of their vibrant colors and maybe fresh aromas, then the Deli, and then meats. If I walk into a store and see rows of apples and oranges followed by rotisserie chickens and then racks of ribs in the butcher section, I will be hungry before I make it to the center aisles. Also, I think you are supposed to use the part where the kid sits to put you crushable veggies.

Answer 3

Things that have to be restocked regularly (fruits, veg, milk, dairy, etc) are placed in the perimeter of the store for easy access. Things with a longer shelf life are in the middle.

You could always sstart at the opposite end and work your way back toward the fruits and veggies.

Answer 4

I think it's designed to help the shopper. Generally, if you need to quickly stop in the store for only a few items, it's veggies, eggs, or milk that you need.

I would hope that it's because they want you to fill your cart with what's best first: fruits & veg, but I don't think that's the case...