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Grocery Line Typecasting


Article # : 16185 

Section : LIFE
Issue Date : 6 / 1989  2,351 Words
Author : Elyse Levine
Elyse Levine is an instructor in the Nutrition Communications Program at Boston University. Her articles on health and nutrition appear regularly in Health Journal.

       While waiting in line at the supermarket cash register, take a look at the contents of other shoppers' shopping carts: The foods we select can tell a story about us--where we came from, our present needs and drives, and where we're going.
       
        For example, in our line meet Betty Belonger, a middle-aged housewife who reads a tabloid while she waits to unload her national brand-name soft drinks, baking ingredients, and canned ham--her husband's favorite. She carriers discount coupons offered by food companies and supermarkets.
       
        Fred Follower, wearing a suit with a designer label, buys mixers for hard liquor, beer nuts, pretzels, frozen stuffed potatoes, and a thick steak. He's listening to management-training tapes, but thinking about how he's going to make this month's payment on his new sports car.
       
        Jill Joiner, a university professor, divorced, organizes a phone list for her environmental group. Her groceries include fruit-flavored club soda, frozen mixed vegetables, microwavable "taco helper," fresh strawberries (out of season), and premium-priced ice cream.
       
        The psychographic game
       
        Chances are good that you've played this game, which marketers call "spot the psychographic." Perhaps you've even done this analysis on yourself.
       
        Is psychographics folklore folly? Unsubstantiated pop psychology? Not according to the food industry giants. The extent to which food ... (1999 of 14891 Characters)
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