The Tense War Between Retailers and Food Companies Over Grocery Store Shelf Space

A Vox report by Phil Edwards explores slotting fees and the tense war between retailers and food companies over grocery store shelf space. The video and article tackle both sides of the issue, making the case for and against the practice of charging slotting fees.

“Slotting fees” (or “slotting allowances”) are fees that manufacturers pay retailers to appear on their scarce shelves. It can cost millions of dollars to launch a product in the nation’s groceries, and through that cost, these fees shape our supermarkets and diets long before we’re able to make a purchase decision ourselves.