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Food Marketing Insitute - Glossary of Terms Category: Agriculture and Industry Date & country: 13/09/2007, USA Words: 1737

main-line
A store's primary display area, which has permanent display fixtures.

mainframe
A non-networked, large computer, the predecessor of personal computers.

maintenance cost
An average inventory's storage expense.

mandatory recycling
A requirement by jurisdictions that residents dispose of used plastic, paper and aluminum in separate collection bins or centers in order to reduce the waste that goes to dumps or landfills.

manifest
See loading sheet.

manufacturer brand
A manufacturer's product distributed by more than one wholesaler or retailer in a territory.

manufacturer's coupon
A magazine advertisement or direct mail coupon for a product..

manufacturer's representative
A sales representative responsible for the sales and distribution of manufacturer's products.

MAP
Modified atmosphere packaging.

margin
The difference between the cost and the retail selling price of goods.

margin blending
A combination of higher- and lower-margin products to achieve an overall margin figure.

markdown
A price reduction of merchandise to sell older merchandise or for a specific sale period.

market development funds (MDF)
A manufacturer's money offer to retailers in a market to advertise or introduce their products.

market profile
A marketplace analysis that describes the number and types of customers in a retail area and other retail stores.

market research
A study of product performance or consumer acceptance; a basis for marketing plans and decisions.

market, market area
See trading area.

marketing
The strategy or creating of an image, designed to attract customers to buy specific products or services or shop in particular stores.

marketing plan
A strategy to increase sales and profits on a product or brand, using ads, signs, displays, promotional incentives and certain performance criteria.

marketing system
The path merchandise travels from a producer to a customer.

markup
The percentage of increase in a wholesale price when sold at a retail price. See margin.

mass display
A large display of items, used to create an impression of abundance and value.

mass merchandiser
A general merchandise retailer offering a large quantity of products at low prices.

master broker
A broker supervising other brokers that represent the same manufacturer. See agent.

MDF
Market development funds.

meat tonnage
The total amount of meat that the meat department processes.

membership club store
See club store.

merchandise mix
The selection of products and categories that comprise a basic store set or distribution center layout. Competing brands within a category.

merchandiser
A person who designs a store's layout, selects and prices products and decides which signs to use to maximize sales volume. Also, a movable, free-standing fixture.

merchandising
The creative handling and presentation of products at the point of sale to maximize their sales appeal.

merchandising allowance
A manufacturer's incentive offered to wholesalers and retailers to advertise and display products for a specific period of time. Also known as a Performance Agreement.

merchandising calendar
The annual merchandising schedule of the food industry coordinating seasonal, ethnic and traditional events.

merchandising committee
A retailer/wholesaler management group that selects new products and accepts manufacturer's allowances and special promotions. See advisory board; buying committee; plans committee.

merchandising department
A division of a food store company that procures products and develops retail sales programs.

merchandising technique
An attractive shelf display of products, e.g., hand-stacked; case-packed; tray-packed; lacing.

merchant discount
A processing fee that retailers pay banks for credit card transactions.

microbe
A microorganism that can cause disease. Bacteria, molds and yeast that can grow on various food and equipment surfaces; the main cause of discoloration in meat and food poisoning.

micromarketing
A marketing plan focused on a defined segment of the marketplace, rather than the entire marketplace.

microwave oven
An oven that cooks foods quickly using microwaves.

middleman
An intermediary in the purchase and/or flow of products from producers to customers.

mini-club
A scaled-down wholesale club, which carries about 60 percent of the SKUs offered in a larger store.

minimum carload weight requirement
A minimum weight or quantity needed to qualify for a railcar shipping rate.

minimum order requirement
A minimum quantity, set by a manufacturer or supplier, for a retailer or wholesaler to order at a time to qualify for a certain price or discount.

MIS
Management information services.

mis-pick
An improperly slotted or selected item that results in the wrong item being shipped and/or billed to a retailer by a wholesaler.

mis-redemptions
A cashier's mistake processing a coupon, such as credit for the wrong item, an expired coupon or over/short on the exchange amount.

mis-stock
An item stocked in the wrong place or incorrectly stocked.

mix
See product mix.

mix-and-match
A display of various items to offer a selection for a single price point, e.g., five for $1.

mixed car or mixed truck
A shipment of a variety of products by rail or truck to a specific location that qualifies by weight as a railcar load or truckload.

mobile
A hanging sign that moves with air flow or is powered by electricity.

mode of shipment (MOS)
The means used to ship items, such as a railway or truck line.

modem
Modulator/demodulator; a telephone-like device that transmits and receives data.

modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)
A packaging technique that uses a gas-flushing process to reduce oxygen and maximize a product's shelf life.

molding, shelf
A grooved strip on a facing of a gondola shelf used to attach price tags and shelf-talkers. Also called shelf channel.

mom and pop store
A family-owned food store operated by a husband and wife and/or other family members.

Money Gram
A person-to-person electronic transfer of money

MOS
See mode of shipment.

motor room
A room that houses mechanical and electrical motors that power a store. Also known as the compressor room.

movement
A tracking of a product's sales by units or cases for a certain time.

movement allowance
A case allowance given to a wholesaler for turning products through the warehouse within a specific timeframe.

multideck
A display case/fixture with shelves placed vertically, one above the other.

multipack
A multi-item pack of products with the same UPC.

multiple pricing
A pricing policy based on the theory that pricing of two or more units for a single price (e.g., 3/$.99) encourages multiple purchases.

multiple-unit sales
Selling in lots of more than one.

multipoint private network
A networking system that links the computer systems of a number of stores on a single leased line. Also called multidrop private network. See frame relay network.

NACDS
National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

NACS
National Association of Convenience Stores.

NASFT
National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

national brand
A product distributed and sold nationwide. Usually nationally advertised with strong customer loyalty.

National Broiler Council
1155 15th St., N.W. Washington, DC 20005 (202) 296-2622

National Fisheries Institute (NFI)
1525 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22209 (703) 524-8880

National Grocers Association (NGA)
1825 Samuel Morse Dr. Reston, VA 22090 (703) 437-5300

National Livestock & Meat Board
444 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 467-5520

national voluntary wholesale grocer
A franchised member wholesaler of a national, voluntary group corporation that can offer retailers franchises and supply products.

NAWD
National Association of Wholesale Distributors

near-pack premium
A special premium offered to customers who buy a product that is displayed close to that product or at the front end of the store.

negative check authorization
A denial of a customer's check by a checking service or in-store database.

neighborhood shopping center
A planned center that has several stores, anchored by a supermarket .

net profit
The difference between gross profit and the cost of doing business. Commonly expressed as a percentage of sales. The dollar amount that remains after goods are sold and all costs are subtracted. Usually reported two ways by corporations

net property and equipment
The value of all property, plant and equipment, including capital leases minus accumulated depreciation and amortization.

net sales
Gross sales minus adjustments and returns. The final figure.

Network Exchange (NEX-UCS)
An electronic communication, utilizing public telecommunications networks, that facilitates the exchange of data and information between office-based computer systems. See UCS; DEX/UCS.

neutralizing charge
A fixed weekly fee, charged to retailers who are stockholders in a wholesale operation, that covers an increased cost of service that was not billed on an original invoice for merchandise.

new distribution
An authorization to receive and stock a new product.

new distribution allowance
See distribution allowance.

new product information sheet
A buyer's data sheet listing product and promotional information and allowances that must be completed by the seller at the buying office.

NEX-UCS
Network exchange.

NFBA
National Food Brokers Association.

NFFA
National Frozen Food Association Inc.

NFI
National Fisheries Institute.

NFPA
National Food Processors Association.

NGA
National Grocers Association.

niche marketing
Advertising and marketing tailored to a specific demographic population with similar purchasing behaviors. Also known as target marketing.

night crew
A group of retail associates who restock merchandise after normal store hours or at night when business is slower. Also known as night stockers.

no frills
A limited-assortment store, which does not provide customer services.

no-name brand
See generic product.

nonfoods
General merchandise sold in food stores, e.g., appliances, electronics, hardware, toys.

nonsponsoring wholesaler
A wholesaler that does not offer memberships that serves single or multi-unit retailers.

normal stock
An amount and mix of products that a retailer needs to meet normal sales volume for a specific period of time, i.e., day, week, month.

not authorized
An item that a store is not allowed to carry.