Every shopping trip usually starts the same way.

A customer walks into the store, grabs a shopping cart, and places both hands on the handle before ever reaching the first aisle. It is one of the most frequently touched surfaces in any grocery or retail environment.

That is why cart cleanliness should not be treated like a small detail.

A University of Arizona study examined bacterial contamination on shopping cart handles and seats from 85 carts in five major U.S. metro areas. The results were eye-opening. Coliform bacteria were found on 72% of the carts tested. In further analysis of carts with coliform bacteria, E. coli was identified on 18 of the 35 carts tested.

The study also noted that shopping cart surfaces had higher bacterial levels than many other commonly touched public surfaces. That does not mean customers should be afraid to shop, but it does show why offering cart wipes is a practical and visible step for retailers.

Cleanliness has become part of the customer experience. Shoppers notice when a store makes it easy to wipe down a cart handle before they shop. It gives them a cleaner start, adds confidence, and shows that the store is paying attention to the details.

cartWipes CLEAN products from Carts and Parts, Inc. help retailers provide a simple wipe solution for customers right where they need it, at the start of the shopping trip.

Because before customers touch your products, they touch your carts.

Source: Gerba and Maxwell, “Bacterial Contamination of Shopping Carts and Approaches to Control,” Food Protection Trends, December 2012.