Tips to Reorganise Your Display Case

Before tasting a product, customers eat with their eyes. This is no coincidence: sight is the first filter of desire. Before taste or smell come into play, the brain visually assesses food and decides whether it is worth trying. Consumer psychology and neuroscience support this idea. Golden colours, shine, volume, contrast and visible textures can instantly trigger emotions such as hunger, craving, nostalgia or curiosity.

In bakeries, cafés and in‑store bakeries, sight acts as a powerful emotional trigger — and it usually does so in the same place: the display case. Far more than just a piece of furniture, it is a key sales tool that directly influences turnover, perceived quality and the overall customer experience.

Reorganising it is therefore not just a matter of order, but a true sales strategy. The way products are arranged can make the difference between a display that is simply looked at… and one that actually sells. Here are some practical tips to help you achieve the latter.

1. Place the most attractive products at eye level

Customers’ eyes naturally focus on the centre of the display. This is where you should position your hero products — the most appealing, most profitable or those you want to promote. New launches, for example, deserve this prime spot. Avoid using this area for basic or automatically rotating products.

2. Arrange products from left to right

In our visual culture, we read from left to right. Take advantage of this flow by placing simpler or lower‑priced products on the left, eye‑catching and higher‑margin items in the centre, and special or indulgent options on the right. This guides the customer through a gradual journey of desire.

3. Group products by category

Visual clutter discourages purchase. Grouping similar products makes the display clearer and more attractive. Keep pastries together, cakes in their own space and special items clearly separated. Within each family, you can still play with shapes, heights and colours.

4. Create focal points

If everything stands out, nothing does. Select one or two focal products per display — seasonal items, new launches or specially decorated products — and surround them with more neutral options so they can visually ‘breathe’.