Did you know that the checkout is a massive department representing $5.5B in retail sales and representing 1.0% of grocery retailer revenue? To ensure you are maximizing this lucrative opportunity, we are sharing the results of the 2010 Front End Focus study from Time Warner.

1. The checkout should be managed as a distinct department/category with at least 83 linear feet stocked with 530 to 599 items.
2. Front-end conversion should exceed 90%.
3. Power categories are defined as products that are high impulse, frequently purchased and have high household penetration.
4. Power categories are beverages, magazines, candy, gum, and mints, which represent 79% of sales and 81% of profits.
5. Beverage coolers should be located on 80% or more of checkout lanes. Coolers should be located in-line on regular lanes to maximize checkout sales and profits on regular lanes (Checkout Performance Index 105).
6. Magazines should be located on 100% of checkout lanes to maximize sales (Checkout Performance Index 107).
7. Maximize checkout sales by placement of magazines both in-line and end-cap (Checkout Performance Index 114).
8. Magazines should be allocated at least 24% of checkout space to maximize sales (Checkout Performance Index 102).
9. Over-the-belt space productivity is maximized when magazines, gum, candy and general merchandise are merchandised in this area (Checkout Performance Index 103 versus an index of 96 when only gum/mints are available).
10. Optimal magazine merchandising techniques differ by lane type (e.g. regular, express and self-scan).

The access the entire study, please visit Front-End Focus.