What is the difference between a food merchandiser and a food retailer?

Question

What is the difference between a food merchandiser and a food retailer?

Answer 1

Retailer is the last link of the distribution (in the consumer market).  But it is rarely owned by the producer or the distributor, but by an independent firm or individual.  It is the place where the fight for shelf space takes place.  All distributors and/or producers fight (trully, an all out fight) for an inch of space in a particular position on the shelves of the retailer.  They can even pay the retailer to guarantee shelf space.  But Key products don't have to do this, they usually enjoy the best shelve anddisplay spaces at no additional cost.

The merchandiser is an employee of the distributor or producer, who goes out visiting assingned retailers, to check the status of their products.  They check that the products are on shelve and on the specified spaces.  They "face" the products, that is, Brand is always looking forward (to the consumer).  They try to steal space from undersupplied products of competitors.  Also, they prepare those pretty "summer fun" displays that you see in stores during peak season.  They do all that is possible to better "move" the product in that retailing facility.

Answer 2

The merchandiser is a third party company hired specifically to go in and monitor and set up displays, ensure inventory levels, and manage shelf space.

Answer 3

A merchandiser is the one who sets up the displays. The retailer is the one who sells it.