Service: Retail Quality Audit / On Shelf Assessment

Client:

Non-food consumer product manufacturer

Objectives/background:

The objective of the programme was to provide the client with specific information on how their products appeared at the "Moment of Truth", or when the consumer makes the decision to purchase. The data was used to recommend package improvements, and in helping establish global quality standards for their entire product range.

Methodology:

RQA field representatives from across 10 European countries visited over 300 retail outlets. In two weeks over 60 of the client's own brand products were inspected across Europe. These averaged approximately 300 products per store! The products of interest ranged between a variety of cosmetic and hygiene products. Data was recorded for each assessment and sent back to the RQA Europe head office for verification and reporting.

Outcome:

The data was collected and reported in such a way that it allowed the client to filter the data according to specific questions they had, for example; to determine the types of products most affected by packaging defects in each country, the most common types of packaging defects in each country per product, thus allowing the client to identify which types of products were susceptible to packaging damage in the supply chain, resulting in continuous improvement & ultimately reduced consumer complaints. This project now forms part of a continuous study which is carried out every 6 months to track products changes / patterns / trends / developments across the European market.

Other Case Studies

  • RQA assessed over 18,000 units in a 2 week period across 150 stores in 7 European countries.  Products assessed were confectionery, dairy products, coffee and other shelf-stable products.  Units were assessed for defects to the packaging and product, as well as the maximum storage temperatures at the point of sale.

 

  • RQA assessed over 11,000 bottles of alcohol across 140 stores in 20 countries in Europe and the USA within a 2 week period. Bottles were assessed for packaging defects and age of product, and benchmarked against the closest competitor.