Retail Expert: Proper Forecasting Will be Vital in 2023

A top executive with S&P Global Ratings said proper forecasting will be imperative for retailers this year, as fading uncertainty enables new opportunities.

3 Keys to Discount Grocers’ Recent Success

Mainstream grocers can learn priceless lessons from successful off-price brands like Aldi, according to one industry analyst. Chief among those lessons is the value of growing private-label offerings.

Grocers Taking In-Store Experience to Next Level

Grocers can enable greater media partnerships by improving their in-store experience, according to one top industry executive.

Grocery Predictions for 2023: Delivery, Loyalty Could Look Different

The coming year could be a turbulent one as grocers navigate economic uncertainty while also benefiting from shoppers’ return to stores in a post-pandemic environment.

Case Study: Dom’s Unveils ‘Next-Generation’ Supermarket Concept

Dom’s Kitchen & Market recently unveiled what it describes as a next-generation omni-channel local food “emporium.”

Out-of-Stocks Cost Grocery Retailers Billions

Smart data and inventory management solutions can help account for lost revenue and even provide further sales opportunities.

Column: Why Investors are Wary of Kroger-Albertsons Merger

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will need to approve Kroger and Albertsons’ planned merger, and that agency has taken a skeptical view of corporate consolidation in recent years.

WATCH: Extreme Weather Continues to Threaten Supplies

Extreme weather events are making their impact felt across the globe, and that’s putting a strain on global food production and distribution.

How to Address Shoppers’ Health and Wellness Demands

Many shoppers remain health-conscious these days, despite rising food prices – 29% of consumers will pay a premium for products with health and wellness attributes.

Expert: Shoppers Looking Across Variety of Retailers for Best Deal

Grocery delivery is here to stay, but the option can be costly for grocers. Here is expert advice from fulfillment professionals on how to maximize profitability.

Consumers Care About Last Mile Sustainability – Which Can Boost Grocers’ Bottom Line

Grocery delivery is here to stay, but the option can be costly for grocers. Here is expert advice from fulfillment professionals on how to maximize profitability.

Is Wegmans Leading the Charge to Ban Plastic Bags?

Regional grocer Wegmans will complete its mission to eliminate plastic bags companywide by the end of the year. Now, the question remains: Will other U.S. grocers follow suit?

Case Study: The Keys to Kroger’s Omnichannel Success

Grocery delivery is here to stay, but the option can be costly for grocers. Here is expert advice from fulfillment professionals on how to maximize profitability.

How Grocers Can Prepare for a Delivery-Centric Future

Grocery delivery is here to stay, but the option can be costly for grocers. Here is expert advice from fulfillment professionals on how to maximize profitability.

CEO: Marketing to Loyal Grocery Shoppers Imperative in 2022

Grocers must focus on solidifying loyalty among shoppers during economic turmoil, and a carefully considered advertising approach is key.

Why Building Loyalty is an Invaluable Sales Strategy for Grocers

Inflation means price-conscious shoppers are trading brand loyalty for promotion hunting habits, but smart grocers can still instill loyalty in their existing shoppers. In fact, grocers can even use this time as an opportunity to …

IRI: Sustainability Emerging as Key Snacking Trend

As snacking trends around the world evolve, sustainability is emerging as a key theme across several markets, according to IRI.

Grocery Stores Diversify Pizza Offerings to Stay Competitive

As Americans aim to save on dining out amid inflation and restaurants battle labor and supply shortages, grocery stores strategize to please consumers’ pizza palates with frozen variety to deli and delivery convenience. Deli pizza …

Amazon’s Grubhub+ Offering Signals New Approach to Loyalty

Food-based add-ins are playing a larger part in Amazon’s subscription plan, as retailers across the industry seek ways to combat fading customer loyalty and reduced spending. The addition of a year of Grubhub+ to Prime …

Why Agility Should Be Top-of-Mind for Both CPGs and Retailers

Amid rising demand for fresher food products, companies need to ensure their inventory is data-driven, with technology and procedures in place to adapt to a rapidly-changing market, according to Venky Ramesh, head of strategic business advisory …

CPGs Refocusing on Faster-Growing Categories

The pandemic changed a lot of consumers’ attitudes towards foods and snacks, focusing more attention on healthier living and alternatives to traditional foodstuffs. As those trends accelerate, CPG companies are rethinking their structures and offerings …

‘Everything Shortage’ Intensifying, from Condiments to Corn

Add condiments and corn to the abundance of shortages from the international supply chain crises. Australia’s low on lettuce, the Philippines are short on sugar, and sunflower oil is scarce in Spain, Bloomberg reported. Inflation, …

Cold Brew Coffee Waking Up Summer Menus

The cold brew coffee trend is gaining serious momentum. Market research company Technavio recently released a report predicting the cold brew trend’s trajectory — 57% by 2025 — after 26% YoY growth in 2021. The …

Rising Gas Prices Prompt Changes in Shopping Habits

With gasoline prices topping $6 a gallon in some parts of the U.S., consumers have been rethinking their shopping habits, opting against multiple trips and turning to superstores and online solutions to cut down on …

3 Tips for Grocers on Beating Inflationary Heat This Summer

From center store basics to fresh perimeter, inflation is high and holding across retail grocery. The price per unit across all foods and beverages in the IRI-measured multi-outlet stores increased to 10.7% in the four …

Bloomberg Boosts 10-Year Plant-Based Market Forecast to $166 Billion

The global plant-based alternatives market could swell to $166 billion in the next decade, according to an updated forecast by Bloomberg Intelligence. Bloomberg’s May 2022 projections incorporated 2021 results into the Plant-Based Foods Poised for …

IRI: Global Snacking Trends to Watch

A recent webinar from market research firm IRI unpacked various snacking opportunities around the globe that are enticing shoppers amid current economic challenges and new patterns of consumption. Here are a few key takeaways: The …

Influx of Teens Impacting Workforce

Everyone remembers that first job: the first whiff of responsibility outside school or home, the ability to put cash in one’s pocket that didn’t come from mom or dad, that incredible flush of independence. But …

Amid Inflation, Loyalty Programs as Popular as Ever

Loyalty and subscription services helped companies retain current customers and attract new ones, even as the pandemic upended many business models. “Loyalty programs are popular right now for several reasons,” Jacob Borgeson, director of product …

Fresh Berry Category Ripe for Summertime Success

Berries were a powerhouse throughout the pandemic and the category continues to thrive as convenience and nutritional appeal keep consumers coming back for more. According to an April report by IRI, fresh berries are the …

As Inflation Rises, Consumers and Food Companies Pivot

It’s been four decades since consumers were slapped with a double whammy of rapidly rising food and gas prices. In the 1970s and early 1980s consumers coped by switching to generics, changing their diets, and …

Consumers Lapping Up Super Premium Waters

Beverage companies looking to recapture consumers who have rejected sweet sodas are turning to sparkling waters to up their bottom lines. Market research firm Euromonitor International reported flavored sparkling water is outpacing bottled still water …

Report: 40% of Consumers Buying Plant-Based Foods

Nearly half of consumers are buying plant-based products in 2022. A new report from Acosta found that 40 percent of consumers surveyed in March purchased plant-based protein and/or dairy alternatives within the last six months, …

Plant-Based Milk Sales Soared During Pandemic, Continue to Rise

The pandemic era has seen a significant rise in the sales of plant-based milks and cheeses, experts said, attributing the upward trend to consumers developing more healthful habits after having eaten indulgently at the beginning …

Analyst: Expect Higher Egg Prices Through 2022

(Editor’s Note 6/15/2022: For updated coverage on the shell egg market, please read “Analysts: Expect Continued Demand for Eggs Despite High Prices“) Egg buyers may have found some relief in March as prices moderated, but …

3 Strategies for CPG Success During a Recession

During the Great Recession, consumers spent less, traded down, and cut back on many CPG purchases. A recent report from the IRI Recession-Proof Your Business series explored these behaviors to glean strategies for success in …