Retail execution services. One accountable partner.
From sales and merchandising to store resets and reverse logistics - every service Meridian offers is executed by trained field teams and verified through the Nexus technology platform.
Retail execution services. One accountable partner.
Every service Meridian offers is executed by trained field teams and verified through the Nexus platform. Explore what we do below.
Sales
Revenue grown at the point of sale.
Our sales teams do more than represent your brand - they actively sell it. Each rep is trained on your range, your priorities and your competitors, then deployed into store with clear targets and the authority to act. They negotiate facings, secure secondary placements, drive through-the-till volume and feed back competitor activity the same day. Because they are dedicated rather than shared across rival brands, their only job is growing yours.
- Dedicated, not sharedReps work your brand exclusively - no divided loyalty across competing SKUs.
- Trained to sell, not just visitProduct, objection-handling and category training before they ever hit the floor.
- Same-day competitor intelPricing, promo and new-listing activity reported the day it is spotted.
Merchandising
Shelf-ready, compliant, every visit.
Availability and visibility are won on the shelf, and lost there too. Our merchandisers restore planogram compliance, clear out-of-stocks, rotate stock to protect against expiry, rebuild displays and reclaim the facings your brand has paid for. They work to a defined cycle so high-velocity stores are covered more often, and every visit ends with proof that the shelf is right.
- Planogram compliance, enforcedFacings, blocking and positioning restored to the agreed layout, not left to chance.
- Out-of-stocks caught earlyGaps flagged and filled before they cost you a sale or a listing.
- Frequency matched to velocityFast-moving stores get more visits - coverage follows the sales, not a flat schedule.
Brand Ambassadors
Shoppers converted at the moment of choice.
A brand ambassador is your brand made human at the exact second a shopper decides. Ours are recruited for personality and product fit, trained deeply, and briefed to educate, sample and convert - not just hand out flyers. They turn passive foot traffic into trial, trial into preference, and preference into a repeat purchase, capturing shopper insight in the moment along the way.
- Recruited for fit, not filled by rotaAmbassadors matched to your brand personality and shopper profile.
- Trained to convert, not just charmDeep product knowledge and a sales-first brief behind every interaction.
- Live shopper insightWhat shoppers ask, love and object to - captured while it is still fresh.
In-Store Auditing
Total shelf visibility, live and verified.
You cannot fix what you cannot see. Our auditing captures the true state of your brand in store - distribution, share of shelf, pricing, promotional compliance and competitor position - using image recognition to turn a shelf photo into structured, comparable data. The result is an objective, national picture of execution you can act on this week, not a survey you read next quarter.
- Image recognition, not guessworkShelf photos converted into hard distribution and share-of-shelf data.
- Priced and promo-checkedYour pricing and promotional compliance verified against plan, store by store.
- Competitor context includedSee your position relative to the category, not just your own facings.
Promotions
Campaigns that actually land on shelf.
A promotion planned in head office means nothing if the display never goes up. We mobilise teams fast to build, stock and activate promotional space on time and in full - end-caps, gondolas, dump bins and feature displays - then verify compliance store by store. When a promo underperforms, you will know whether it was the offer or the execution, because we can prove the display was live.
- Fast national mobilisationTeams deployed at pace to hit go-live dates across every region at once.
- Built, stocked and compliantDisplays not just placed but filled, priced and matched to the brief.
- Execution proven, not assumedEvery activation verified so ROI is measured against a display that was actually up.
Asset Tracking
Every branded asset, visible and protected.
Fridges, stands, dispensers and display units are real capital sitting in stores you do not control. We register, deploy, verify and periodically re-check every asset, so you always know what you own, where it is and whether it is working for your brand. Missing, misused or competitor-filled assets are flagged and recovered - protecting both your investment and your shelf presence.
- A live register of what you ownEvery asset logged, located and accounted for - not lost in a spreadsheet.
- Misuse and drift caughtCompetitor stock in your fridge, or a unit gone missing, gets flagged fast.
- Deployment to verificationWe manage the asset across its whole life, not just the day it is dropped off.
Reverse Logistics
Returns and recalls, handled cleanly.
When stock has to come back - damaged, expired, discontinued or recalled - speed and accuracy protect both your margin and your reputation. We manage the whole reverse flow: identifying affected stock in store, removing it correctly, documenting quantities and reasons, and closing the loop with accurate reporting. In a recall, that discipline is the difference between a controlled response and a brand crisis.
- Recall-ready disciplineA defined, documented process for when stock has to come off shelf fast.
- Accurate recovery reportingQuantities and reasons captured correctly, store by store, for full traceability.
- Reputation protectedExpired and damaged stock removed before a shopper - or a regulator - finds it.
Store Resets
Remodels delivered at pace, cleanly.
A category reset or store remodel is disruptive, time-pressured and unforgiving of error - a shelf left half-built loses sales every hour. Our teams execute resets to plan, at speed, and out of trading hours where needed, restoring correct layout, pricing and stock flow with minimal disruption to the store. We treat every reset as mission-critical, because the store is trading again the moment we are done.
- Executed to plan, at speedNew planograms built accurately and fast, so shelves sell again sooner.
- Minimal trading disruptionWork scheduled and staged to keep the store - and your sales - moving.
- Mission-critical mindsetResourced and managed as a project, not squeezed between other visits.
Shelf Relays
New planograms, right the first time.
When a range changes, the relay has to be fast and exact - the right product, in the right place, ready to sell immediately. Our teams execute relays against the new planogram with rigorous checks, so facings, blocking and pricing are correct before we leave. Done well, a relay is invisible to the shopper and seamless for the retailer; done badly, it costs you sales and goodwill. We do it well.
- Right first timeFacings, blocking and pricing correct on completion - no costly return visits.
- Rigorous on-the-spot checksEvery relay validated against the planogram before the team signs off.
- Seamless for the retailerFast, tidy execution that protects your relationship with the store.
Trusted by 100+ South African brands - from FMCG leaders to fast-growing challengers
"Their extensive national footprint, strong operational capabilities, and commitment to execution excellence have helped drive consistent in store availability, improved compliance, and faster implementation of key initiatives."
Questions about our services
What retail execution services does Meridian Group offer?
Meridian offers nine integrated services: Sales, Merchandising, Brand Ambassadors, In-Store Auditing, Promotions, Asset Tracking, Reverse Logistics, Store Resets and Shelf Relays - all executed nationally and verified through the Nexus platform.
Can Meridian execute a national campaign rollout?
Yes. With six regional offices and 5,000+ people in the field, Meridian mobilises national rollouts fast - with task tracking through to completion and store-level accountability on every campaign.
How is Meridian's work verified?
Through the Nexus platform: GPS-verified check-ins, geo- and time-stamped photo evidence, automated compliance scoring and live dashboards - audit-ready proof for every store visit.
Can we start with a single service?
Absolutely. Many partnerships start with one pressure point - merchandising compliance, a promotion rollout, or an audit - and expand as results are proven. Request an execution audit to find the right starting point.
Which service is costing you sales right now?
Request an execution audit and we'll pinpoint where your brand is losing revenue on shelf - and which service closes the gap fastest.