With the pandemic threatening to intrude on a second holiday season and the nation’s workers rethinking what they want out of their jobs and careers, labor unrest has been sweeping through U.S. companies of late. …
Kroger may be more than a century old, but the venerable grocery store chain is taking a page from more recent upstarts and betting on e-commerce to keep it ticking long into the 21st century. …
Consumers flocked to Instacart during the pandemic, but with growing competition and consumers’ sensitivity to prices and aversion to fees, the grocery delivery pioneer could see its market share decline, a recent survey by Barclays …
A detour to the grocery store on the way home from work used to be just part of the daily grind, but all that has changed, and Amazon’s entry into the grocery business is moving …
As competition intensifies across the media advertising landscape, major retail players are differentiating themselves with technologically-optimized content that advances the omnichannel purchasing experience. The recent partnership between Walmart and media corporation Meredith has upped the …
On a recent earnings call, Kroger CFO Gary Millerchip said the retailer will be “passing along higher cost to the customer where it makes sense to do so.” The CFO acknowledged the company’s facing pressures …
Kroger and ghost kitchen start-up Kitchen United have teamed to provide shoppers with on-demand takeout and delivery food. Through the partnership, Kitchen United will feature up to six restaurant brands inside select Kroger locations. The …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine Kroger’s unique new ghost kitchen setup, how restaurants are addressing wage “compression,” and the dwindling American beer market. The Food Institute Podcast · …
Amazon broke new ground in the retail space with the recent debut of its “Just Walk Out,” cashierless checkout system at a grocery store in Bellevue, Washington. Amazon’s VP of Physical Retail and Technology, Dilip …
Pandemic pressure from consumers has supercharged e-commerce technology and triggered its rapid adoption, ultimately blurring the boundaries between traditional food categories like never before. The stage is now set for an omnichannel future wherein providers …
The modern concept of vertical farming was put forth in 1999 by Columbia University microbiologist Dickson Despommier, who along with his students, came up with a design of a skyscraper farm that could feed 50,000 people. …
George Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests and ultimately served as a catalyst for anti- discrimination efforts. Many companies also responded by releasing statements against racism. And some took action, setting quantifiable goals to increase diversity …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down the impact of inflation, oat milk’s surge in popularity, rising consumption of coffee, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast …
Recent delivery innovations by Amazon, Kroger, and Walmart are bringing groceries beyond consumers’ doorstep. Sales from grocery deliveries surged throughout 2020 and demand for the service remains high. In February 2021, online grocery deliveries and …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down record beef and pork exports, the persistent chicken wing shortage, Kroger’s new drone delivery program, and more. To listen, click the play/arrow …
Millennials’ favorite food and beverage brands in 2021 highlight a taste for convenience, comfort, and quality with a focus on affordability. The popularity of private labels and non-traditional retailer formats are also on the rise. …
The demand for private label grocery products remained strong throughout the pandemic, with higher-end premium lines driving sales for traditional grocers, clubs, and mass merchandisers. Now, Kroger plans to add 660 items to its private …
Online grocery usage has skyrocketed in recent years: 73% of consumers had purchased grocery items online within the last three months, compared to 17% in 2017, according to a survey by Power Reviews. Of course, …
While grocery store owners benefited from a rush of customers throughout much of the past year as the pandemic raged, owners now have growing concern that their bottom line will look far less rosy in …
The push for the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the minimum wage to $15, is pressuring U.S. businesses like restaurants that depend on keeping labor costs in check to survive. QSRs are finding …
Big foodmakers are taking advantage of a pandemic-driven rise in online shopping to track consumer analytics. “For a food brand it’s really no longer about who has the biggest factory, or who has the biggest …
Walmart is tapping automation to help its store fleet handle last-mile grocery delivery, adding local fulfillment centers (LFCs) that will turn parts of them into mini warehouses and speed up fulfillment for local customers. The …
Several food retailers are revamping their advertising businesses and appear to be modeling their approach after companies like Google and Amazon. Walmart is the latest to do so, which could have far-reaching business implications. The …
The meal kit and fresh food segments have experienced tremendous growth over the course of the pandemic on a combination of limited dining-out options, families with little time to spare for preparing and cooking food, …
As COVID-19 continues to dampen sales at restaurants, some are trying a new strategy by opening in retail stores, which have profited from the pandemic. Hy-Vee Inc. is preparing to open its 20th Wahlburgers at …
As COVID-19 cases rise across the U.S., grocery stores are doing their part to ramp up testing. The Kroger Co., Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, and Hy-Vee are among the grocers offering different options for testing, with …
Food retailers are partnering with technology companies to make their operations more efficient as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Giant Eagle now operates FlyBuy Pickup, a curbside and in-store pickup program. FlyBuy, using location technology from …
Kroger forecasted growth of more than 13% for 2020 in its latest earnings report. Sales were up 8.2% to $30.5 billion in second quarter, with growth up 139% excluding fuel. Identical store sales increased 14.6%, …
Private-label brands have been performing well during COVID-19. Entering 2020, the category grew more than 4% as national brands only grew at 1.5%, according to Nielsen. As the year carried on, the category continued to …
Food Institute Focus – Retailers Disrupt Milk Processing Industry
Food Institute Focus – Retail Employees Feel Effects of COVID-19
Food Institute Focus – Walmart and Kroger Undergo Redesigns