Foods For Trade
Food Industry Definitions

Click on the letter below to view a list of all terms in the glossary beginning with that letter.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


IARWInternational Association of Refrigerated Warehouses.
ice burnA contact "burn" of raw fish iced too long.
IDDBAInternational Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association.
identification labelThe label showing name, age (or pasteurization) and the identity of cheese.
IFMAInternational Foodservice Manufacturers Association.
IMPACTInventory management program and control technique.
impactA measurement of customer reaction to advertising and merchandising.
impulse buyAn unplanned purchase promoted by visual or other sensory stimulation.
in-ad couponA manufacturer's cents-off coupon appearing in a retailer's ad.
in-and-out promotionA retail promotion for a limited selling period that features product types or quantities not regularly stocked (e.g., lawn mowers, Christmas ornaments).
inboundThe path customers follow as they enter a store and begin shopping. The term can also refer to the flow of products into a warehouse prior to order selection.
incentive plan or incentive programMonetary compensation to employees for meeting and/or exceeding sales, and other profit performance goals.
income statementSee operating statement.
incrementalAn increase in product sales volume attributed to a special promotion or merchandising plan.
independent storeA retailer with 1-10 stores with similar operational policies and programs.
indexAn alphabetical list of products and prices handled by a wholesaler.
indirect account or indirect buying groupA retailer purchasing products directly from a wholesaler, rather than manufacturers. See direct account.
indirect chainA group of retail stores that purchases products from a wholesaler instead of operating its own warehouse.
indirect expenseAn expense that does not directly relate to a specific segment of the business operation.
indirect sellingA sale of goods by a manufacturer to a service merchandiser or other wholesaler, who in turn sells the products to chain store companies or independent stores.
individually quick frozen (IQF)A food processing technique that freezes products in the final stage of processing. It is then wrapped and packaged for shipment.
industry trade associationA nonprofit organization that represents members and provides services, e.g., referrals, direct purchases, lobbying, education services.
informal displayA haphazard product display, purposely jumbled in bins or on tables to project a buy-me, well-shopped image. See dump display; jumble display; mass display.
information technology (I/T)Integrated computer systems that provide information for business decisions.
in-line productProducts that are permanently ordered and stocked for a store.
inner packA sub-package within a master package.
in-pack promotionA coupon packaged with a product.
insetA drop-in fixture used to modify standard grocery shelving. Used to break up the monotony of gondola shelving.
inside sales repSee telephone sales rep.
inspection reportA lost/damage claim describing the condition of the product.
instant redeemable coupon (IRC)A coupon located with or attached to a product for the customer to use immediately or save for future use.
institutional advertisingAdvertising conveying a company's general image or philosophy as opposed to specific product information. Also known as image advertising.
institutional and industrial buyersHospitals, restaurants, schools and other institutions that buy food and supplies from a wholesale grocer for consumption, not for resale.
institutional sizesLarge cans and packages of food products used in food service preparations, e.g., commissaries, restaurants.
institutional wholesale grocerA wholesaler selling to related businesses in the food industry; e.g., commissaries, hotels, restaurants, etc.
in-stockProducts regularly carried, currently stocked on the shelves and available for purchase. See out-of-stock.
in-store advertisingSignage used by a retailer to merchandise products within a store.
In-store bakeryA bakery department producing baked goods in the store using one of two baking methods: scratch using ready-made mixes and frozen dough. making products according to a formula or bake-off -using ready-made mixes and frozen dough.
in-store bankingA franchise department in a retail store that provides full or partial banking services to customers.
in-store couponA coupon only offered to customers who shop in the store.
in-store demonstratorsAn employee or temporary person conducting tastings, samplings, and product preparations to encourage impulse buys from customers.
in-store processor (ISP)An in-store computer system that operates the various systems., e.g., point-of-sale register system, ATM cards, inventory.
in-store signs/promotionsSignage used by a retailer to merchandise products and displays within the store.
insulated containersContainers used to hold hot or cold products to ensure that they will be in good condition when they get to the customer's home.
integrated approachCreating opportunities for solution selling of products throughout all departments in a store.
integrated EDI (electronic data interchange)A term applied to the direct entry of information received electronically into the recipient's computer system (e.g., the entry of a transmitted invoice directly into the accounts payable ledger). Integrated EDI eliminates manual checking, saving time and
integrationGeneral merchandise and health and beauty aids shelved in aisles with food, not in a separate store area.
intercomAn in-store communication system used by employees to speak with one another.
interest expenseThe cost of borrowed money including all interest charges on short- or long-term debt and capital lease obligations.
intermodalTransporting products by a variety of transportation vehicles.
intermodal containerSee container.
internal auditA staff department that is responsible for performing operational audits of the stores. The areas audited include pricing, receiving, bookkeeping and security areas.
internal borrowing rateThe rate at which money can be borrowed within the company.
International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Assoc. (IDDBA)P.O. Box 5528 313 Price Place, Suite 202 Madison, WI 53705-0528 (608) 238-7908
InternetA global computer network. The system allows you to send and receive communications; conduct research; access public or private databases and advertise products and services.
internet couponsElectronically redeemed coupons using the Internet.
interstore transferAn invoice showing a transfer of merchandise or wages between separate stores.
intranetAn internal computer network to facilitate corporate communications with access limited to a company.
introductory allowanceOne-time manufacturer's discount for an initial purchase of a new or existing product.
introductory offerA manufacturer's incentive on a new or improved product. See handling charge.
inventoryStock-on-hand. An analysis of inventory in the store which provides the company with valuable information regarding shrink, inventory level and management performance.
inventory carrying costThe total dollar value of all products carried by a retailer.
inventory controlThe management of product-flow through the retail/ wholesale system.
inventory lossA condition that occurs when there is less product on hand than should be; resulting in lower sales and shrink.
inventory management program and control technique (IMPACT)A purchasing software program that facilitates inventory control, including ordering, shipping and distributing products.
inventory turnoverThe rate at which products must be restocked because of customer sales.
invoiceAn itemized statement of products received showing items shipped, price and total amount billed.
invoice adjustmentPlus or minus on an invoice due to damaged goods, shortage, etc.
IPHItems per hour.
IQFIndividually quick frozen.
IRCInstant redeemable coupon.
irradiationA food preservation process that utilizes radiation to control bacteria growth and increase shelf-life.
island displayA free-standing retail display built in the center of wide aisles to divert traffic. Products may be case-stacked on the floor or placed on portable tables or fixtures.
ISPIn-store processor.
I/TInformation technology.
itemProducts carried in-stock by a retailer or wholesaler.
item maintenanceAn EDI transaction, UCS 888, used by sellers to electronically provide customers with physical product parameters for consumer item, unit of sale, unit, and unit load. Parameters include identification codes, size, weight, cube and descriptions.
item pricingAttaching the retail price to each product.
item re-order pointA designated inventory level at which additional product should be ordered. Re-order points are generally related to shelf capacity and item case pack.
items per hourAn average amount of items checked/scanned in an hour by a cashier.

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