How Stater Brothers Markets is Transforming Product Sampling with Swish and Mercatus

In an era where grocery shopping is increasingly digital, Stater Bros. Markets, in collaboration with Swish Brand Experiences and Mercatus, is pioneering a new frontier in consumer engagement: Sponsored Product Sampling. This innovative program is not just a fresh take on an age-old marketing strategy but a powerful tool designed to redefine how grocery retailers connect with their customers.

For decades, product sampling has been a staple of grocery marketing, enticing shoppers with in-store experiences that often led to immediate purchases. However, as more consumers shift to online shopping, traditional sampling methods have struggled to keep pace. For grocers, the challenges are manifold—logistical complexities, high costs, and the inability to measure the true impact of sampling campaigns have often made these initiatives more trouble than they’re worth.

Denise Singler, Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Stater Bros. Markets, acknowledged these hurdles: “Our prior attempts at product sampling for eCommerce customers were ineffective and created additional complexity for the order fulfillment teams in our stores.” The result was a need for a solution that could seamlessly integrate into the digital shopping experience without overwhelming store operations.

Enter Swish Brand Experiences and Mercatus, two companies at the cutting edge of retail technology. Their partnership with San Bernardino, California-based supermarket chain Stater Bros. Markets has birthed a Sponsored Product Sampling program that not only addresses the shortcomings of traditional sampling but also leverages modern technology to enhance the overall shopping experience.

Swish Brand Experiences brings to the table a data-driven platform that simplifies the product sampling process. This technology allows brands to target specific customer segments based on their purchase history, ensuring that samples are relevant and likely to lead to future purchases. These “samples” are full-size products that are in the stores - including fresh, refrigerated and frozen categories - making sampling viable across all categories. For retailers like Stater Bros. Markets, this means more effective marketing campaigns and a streamlined process that minimizes the burden on store staff.

“The surprise-and-delight experience of sampling inside the store is now possible online,” Singler explains, “and made even better because it is uniquely personalized to each shopper. We’re excited to see how the Sponsored Product Sampling program drives repeat purchases both in-store and online.”

Swish technology powers this innovative sampling program delivered through the infrastructure of the Mercatus digital commerce platform. As a leading provider of eCommerce and personalization solutions for grocery retailers, Mercatus offers a platform that integrates Swish’s sampling technology seamlessly into the existing digital storefronts for retailers like Stater Bros. Markets.

This integration between Swish and Mercatus is key to the program’s success. Grocery retailers can offer a sampling experience that is not only simple and scalable but also highly measurable. Retailers and CPG partners can track the performance of sampling campaigns in real-time, monitoring metrics such as direct sales, halo sales, and customer lifetime value.

Sylvain Perrier, President and COO of Mercatus, highlights the significance of this partnership: “Being first-to-market with Swish’s ground-breaking product sampling technology equips our clientele with cutting-edge tools for customer engagement and retention. This strategic move is aimed at providing a uniquely differentiated eCommerce experience that positions our clients well ahead of their competition.”

The Sponsored Product Sampling program is more than just a marketing initiative; it’s a new revenue stream for retailers, a targeted marketing tool for brands, and a delightful surprise for customers. By transforming what was once a logistical headache into a streamlined and data-driven process, Stater Bros. Markets is setting a new standard for how grocery retailers can engage with their customers in the digital age.

For CPG brands like Klimon, a premium dairy-free ice cream company, the benefits are clear. Alex Cotraviwat, CEO of Klimon Inc., lauds the initiative as a gamechanger: “Swish's programmatic approach transforms inventory into a powerful marketing vehicle, allowing us to inspire and win new customers in ways we've never seen before.”

As Stater Bros. Markets continues to roll out this program, the implications for the grocery industry are profound. Sponsored Product Sampling, powered by the collaboration between Swish Brand Experiences and Mercatus, is not just a solution for today’s challenges—it’s a blueprint for the future of retail. By embracing innovation and leveraging technology, Stater Bros. Markets is proving that even in a digital world, the simple act of sampling a product can still be a powerful tool for growth and customer engagement.

In the competitive landscape of grocery retail, those who can adapt and innovate will thrive. With this groundbreaking program, Stater Bros. Markets is not just keeping up with the times—they’re leading the way.