The basic necessities of life. From pre-packaged foods to unrefined commodities, the import/export of food & agriculture is vital to the world. An estimated $1 trillion worth of goods are traded every year. Economically, trade helps countries temper price fluctuations, stabilize food supplies, and increase sales. Improvement in quality of life through increased food variety is also important to note. For example, the United States is one of the largest consumers of coffee, but is only able to harvest the crop in the state of Hawaii, and despite having a large food & agriculture trade surplus, the United States must import the majority of its coffee from different countries around the world. JCM First Venture helps firms understand the intricacies of the food & agriculture market including safety & food regulations, shipping logistics, product sourcing, and sales channel penetration.

Category Management
No longer just an outlet for buying basic foodstuffs, the grocery store has evolved into a one stop shop known as the supermarket. Stocking everything from pharmaceuticals and toys, to meats and produce, these establishments bring convenience to shoppers. However, this experience is not shared with supermarket operators. Managing both perishable and non perishable inventory from hundreds of different distributors can be very complex and problematic. Recently, operators have begun using a strategy known as category management. By treating each product category as individual business units, operators can more closely manage sales, inventory levels, and on going promotions for greater efficiency. This requires strong product knowledge, which is readily available through distributors. While historically an adversarial relationship, supermarket operators and distributors should adopt a more complementary relationship with the end goal of increasing sales. While promotions are efficient, it is important to an increase in one good, not lead to a cannibalization of another; finding product complements is essential.