AbstractCurrent methods by which supermarkets decide which new products to stock are reviewed. Certain limitations of these subjective andad hocprocedures are suggested and an alternative approach based on a screening technique is developed. The parameters of this method are shown to depend explicitly upon the observed attributes of past successful products and the opportunity costs associated with the decision of the supermarket buyer.It is demonstrated how the structure of the problem could lead naturally to its formulation in terms of a modified form of classificatory analysis. The value and economy of this approach are illustrated and discussed.