P&H taps in to health trends online

Palmer & Harvey is to provide retailers with high-quality images and nutritional information for all lines on its online system.

The wholesaler said it will help store owners to “equip themselves” with the information they need to attract health-conscious customers.

The update gives retailers 160 information points for every product on the site through a partnership with product experts Brandbank. Commenting on what the update means for retailers, P&H e-commerce manager Ed Chartier said: “There is a growing trend within convenience for healthier choices, and with the addition of nutritional and allergen information to our site, retailers can equip themselves with more product information to support their shoppers.”

P&H said the update will also make ordering online easier for retailers. Brandbank told Retail Express that it will also reduce the chances of  “incorrect products being ordered” by “empowering retailers” with the necessary information.

At the Better Wholesaling Summit last month, wholesalers said a lack of product images was preventing retailers from using online ordering. This was supported by Blakemore marketing manager Ami Sandhu who recently asked suppliers for more help in adding images to their app.

Online ordering remains low among convenience retailers, with wholesalers reporting that just 10% of their orders are placed online.

Sohail Saleem, owner of Xtra Local Tollhouse in Glasgow said there is a generational difference. “There’s an absence of the new generation of shopkeepers from cash & carries – they’d rather pay the delivery fee and have four hours of their day back,” he said

The online update by Palmer & Harvey is the second to be rolled out this year, with the company previously launching a barcode scanner app at Pro-retail earlier this year.

A spokesperson from Brandbank said the deal means it would be “providing all of the essential product images and data necessary for selling a product online and for merchandising in-store”.