Finding a safe way to bring back food sampling in stores is key. Costco and others are going to figure out the best way to do so. This is just another step to get us back to “normal.”

I’m going to defer passing judgment on the Costco plan until I hear more details but, in general, I am advocating that we move slowly and very carefully into programs that introduce more risk to the shopping journey. So I would like to see a limited trial in a limited number of stores in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety compliance before a large-scale rollout. I fear governance of and compliance with safety protocols may be a blind spot lurking around retail’s corner, and adding programs that require touching shared services, removing masks, and congregating make me worry about safety and compliance at every step of the experience.

I think this is a backbone of what customers have come to expect from shopping at Costco but I think it will definitely need to be re-imagined based on the new rules that were formulated for post-pandemic service in the stores. Many other stores will wait and see what Costco does before they get back into sampling.

Las Vegas casinos are already brainstorming ways to bring back buffets. At first pass no one thought that would happen.

Sampling has always been a big part of the shopping experience. Individually packaged samples might be the norm for a while, but I have no doubt that grocers will find a safe way to bring back this customer favorite. Crowded aisles and all.

Sampling as it was is a clear risk and these stores know it. If masks are required, pulling masks down and eating in aisles will also be a risk. So it will be interesting to see what they attempt to do.

The really curious part is how things come full circle. The in-store interactive system I developed around a decade ago called iSample was a hygienic self-serve sampling system that provided interactive messaging, surveying, and analytics and would solve all but the eating in-store issues. Sounds like I should blow the dust off of it and…

Having food samples always attracts shoppers and provides the suppliers with prospective buyers. Having the ability to safely sample is a positive. There are many ways the samples can be given out safely. Having individual samples handed to each shopper by a gloved sampler will work.

Even pre-COVID-19, watching shoppers take food samples in stores always made me uncomfortable. I would be cautious of any sampling system that purports to control the safety of samples. Simply put, I don’t trust the shoppers.

Introducing sampling for in-store consumption will return slowly. A year or so from now, it may be back to pre-COVID days. In the interim, the rollout will be based on a specific community’s infection data. Any standardized national policy would have to be at the lowest common denominator and that only generates frustrations for all – customers and employees alike.

It is incumbent on stores to give out clear signals about how they are making food sampling safe. It must not be brought back to “just the way it was.”

What things can they do? The list above gives a good start on possible changes. But in everything stores do they need to be aware that they are being watched closely for signs that they understand the new world which has be thrust upon us all. And they need to lead in re-opening safely.

How can sampling be done while all employees and customers are wearing masks? It is too early to encourage people to take off masks and group together.

Too many unknowns here to make a clear judgement. What will Costco’s — or others’ — sampling plans look like? What will the pandemic look like, i.e., will the virus mutate in a way that will allow it to be foodborne? Will there be another Wave I peak? Will there be a Wave II? What do you do about masks and social distancing? So at this point a good guess would be that risks potentially outweigh rewards. As to what the solution is, you can’t solve a problem you can’t define.

In-store sampling has always been a shopper favorite. But it is too soon to bring back this promotion. First, there is the issue of masks. Are shoppers supposed to remove masks to sample and then put the mask on? Then there is the issue of cautious shoppers wondering if sampling food and drink is safe since the coronavirus has not yet been vanquished. More time has to pass before sampling becomes viable and valuable again.

Sampling will be back but it will be in a different form. Who would argue that sampling drives trial and can increase sales of products by hundreds of percentage points to over 1000%? What you may see is more self-contained packages at room temperature. You may also see products that are cooked in trays or another packaging that can be heated. It is just such a great tactic that persuades consumers to purchase, it won’t go away, but it will be decidedly different.

While from a retailer perspective bringing back sampling is certainly desirable, I’m not so sure shoppers wholeheartedly agree. Our recent study shows that 59% thought discontinuing product demos/sampling was very effective in improving supermarket safety during this time. Another 33% thought it was somewhat effective. So rushing to have samples available again may not be met with the kind of response a retailer might expect.

Too soon. Perception is a reality you have to deal with, and too many people perceive sampling to be risky now. I doubt that will change in the near future. Like Ryan, I’d need to see more specific details, but my gut instinct is “no.” Just heard today that the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association is going “from in-person to virtual,” and that’s in OCTOBER. I think Costco will ultimately do a great job at bringing sampling back, when the time is right. Same for HEB.