By Kurt Burmeister, SVP of National Sales & Importing, Lipari Foods | KLT Global
Global foods are no longer a specialty segment—they are a primary driver of traffic, relevance, and basket growth across the perimeter. For retailers, the challenge is not whether to invest, but how to execute in a way that is scalable, localized, and operationally efficient.
From the rise of plant-based diets to increased demand for Halal and Kosher options, shoppers are placing a premium on products that align with their lifestyles and identities. At the same time, interest in global cuisines—from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern to Asian and Indian—continues to accelerate, fueled by travel, social media, and a growing appetite for discovery.
From Ingredients to Experiences
Across bakery, deli, cheese, and specialty grocery, global influence is driving premiumization, trade-up behavior, and larger basket sizes. Shoppers are no longer just buying ingredients—they are building experiences.
For retailers, this presents a clear opportunity—but also a challenge. Executing a global foods strategy requires more than expanding the assortment. It demands supply chain agility, localized merchandising, cultural relevance, and the ability to consistently deliver fresh, high-quality products at scale.
Turning Complexity Into Advantage
KLT Global partners with retailers to turn this complexity into a competitive advantage.
By combining a curated global assortment with a fully integrated supply chain, KLT Global enables retailers to expand into international and specialty foods—without adding operational friction. From Halal, Kosher, and plant-based to authentic international brands and fresh perimeter solutions, KLT Global delivers the products today’s shoppers expect—supported by the infrastructure to execute consistently at store level.
KLT Global brings a multi-channel approach in depth and differentiation through bakery, deli, cheese, and specialty grocery. This includes artisan breads, cakes, tortes, filled muffins, and pastries; globally sourced and domestically produced cheeses in formats ranging from hand-cut and wrapped, slices and shreds, to bulk and party trays; and a wide range of international specialties.
Complementing this are KLT Global’s own manufactured products such as jarred fruits, salsas, vegetables, jellies, and jams—giving retailers flexibility to build a truly unique assortment.
What further distinguishes KLT Global is its ability to integrate every element of execution into a single, cohesive platform. Retail partners benefit from:
- A differentiated assortment that drives traffic, trade-up, and category growth
- Flexible, high-frequency distribution delivering freshness and minimized inventory risk
- Localized strategies built around trade area demographics and shopper insights
- Private label and exclusive product development that improves margins and builds loyalty
- Cross-merchandising and bundled solutions that increase basket size and transaction value
- Direct supplier engagement and global sourcing expertise
KLT Global also connects retailers to the broader global food ecosystem through access to premier international trade shows, including SIAL (Paris), Anuga (Germany), Gulfood (Dubai), Thaifex (Thailand), PLMA (Amsterdam), and SIAL China.
We work alongside our retail partners on these global “treasure hunts”—identifying emerging trends, discovering unique products, and engaging directly with suppliers, often complemented by curated factory tours that bring the full supply chain to life.
Execution at the Shelf
KLT Global supports retailers with a comprehensive marketing and merchandising engine designed to turn shopper interest into purchase. This includes strategic in-store displays, digital, cross and secondary merchandising opportunities, social campaigns, sampling programs, bundled meal solutions, and storytelling that drive discovery and awareness—all leading to incremental basket growth.
The result: global products don’t just reach the shelf—they resonate with the shopper and move consistently.
As global demand continues to accelerate, retailers that win will be those who can scale quickly, localize effectively, and execute flawlessly—while also creating meaningful shopper connections and maximizing basket size.
KLT Global Foods provides the platform to do all four—helping retailers turn global foods into a consistent, profitable growth engine.
To learn more, visit kltglobal.com
