WOODBRIDGE, N.J. -- Readying for the holiday season, Pathmark Stores here recently devoted the back cover of its weekly circular to baking products.
The ad was topped by a banner that said, "Baking Stock-Up Sale," and featured graphics of a brick oven, a baker's hat and a wooden bread board.
Sale products included Gold Medal cookie and corn-muffin mix, Pillsbury Grands! biscuit dough, Pathmark corn oil, McCormick vanilla extract, Pet-Ritz pie shells and Comstock canned pumpkin as well as Betty Crocker frosting, pie crust mix and gingerbread mix.
Several items in the ad were discounted in no-cut "Smart Coupons," such as Betty Crocker muffin and dark-chocolate brownie mix, Pillsbury pie crusts, 4C bread crumbs and Diamond shelled walnuts.
Also appearing in the ad were tie-in items from other departments, including Ekco bakeware and fresh-made pies from the Pathmark bakery.
Pathmark officials could not be reached for comment on the ad and supplementary in-store merchandising.
However, an SN visit to a Pathmark Super Center in Jericho, N.Y., revealed the chain supported the ad extensively with shelf tags in its baking products aisle.
One type of tag said, "Shop Pathmark Smart For Your Holiday Needs." Red tags indicated "Smart Coupon" items. Besides products appearing in the ad, they included Betty Crocker cake mixes, Pillsbury cake mixes, Cake Mate decorating icing and sprinkles, and Gold Medal flour.
