Americans Plan to Spend Less During the Holidays

Almost 40% of Americans plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season, according to a CNBC economic survey. The average U.S. citizen plans to spend $886, down 10% from a year ago, as the …

Restaurants Focus on Employees as More Closures Loom

The coronavirus pandemic has caused 8,400 retailers and 110,000 restaurants to close across the U.S. this year, according to industry statistics, reported The Economic Times (Dec. 14). And even more closures could be on the …

Online Grocery Sales Top $8B in November

U.S. online grocery sales reached $8.1 billion during November, continuing a trend of more than $8 billion in monthly sales dating back to May, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. The survey …

Companies Look to Recoup Losses Following Poultry Price-Fixing Charges

Chick-fil-A filed a federal lawsuit accusing 16 poultry suppliers of inflating prices on billions of dollars of chicken that it bought, reported The New York Times (Nov. 6). The suit accuses the producers of violating …

Restaurants Combining with Retail Stores to Drum up Sales

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 …

Grocery Stores Prepare to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

Neighborhood grocery stores will likely serve as major providers of COVID-19 vaccinations, reported The Wall Street Journal (Nov. 30). Supermarkets are working to secure storage materials for the vaccines, and other medical gear required for …

Retailers Bring Back Hazard Pay and Bonuses

Several companies have recently made announcements regarding bonuses and hazard pay, following reports of retailers not sharing enough of their pandemic profit with their employees. Here are a few: Amazon After ending its $2-an-hour pay …

Black Friday 2020 Online Sales Break All-Time Record

U.S. consumers spent an estimated $9 billion this year on U.S. retail websites for Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics, reported AL.com (Nov. 28). The spend represents a 22% increase over a record $7.4 billion …

Holiday Shopping Expected to Rise During COVID-19

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday sales will rise in 2020 when compared to 2019 as consumers search for reasons to celebrate during the pandemic. The group forecast holiday sales in November and December …

Walmart Continues to Advance its Businesses During the Pandemic

Walmart has made several business moves recently that involve a delivery acquisition and a COVID-19 testing-related investment. Walmart acquired select assets of JoyRun in a bid to incorporate its peer-to-peer food and drink delivery service …

COVID-19 is Increasing, but Hazard Pay for Retail Employees is Not

Despite rising coronavirus cases across the country, hazard pay for retail workers is not keeping pace. Industry observers say many retailers are not sharing enough of the profits they have earned during the pandemic with …

Interest in Delivery Companies Continues

Ahold Delhaize will acquire a majority stake in FreshDirect, with plans to accelerate its growth online and around New York, reported Winsight Grocery Business (Nov. 18). The acquisition will allow Ahold Delhaize to begin its …

The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner is Down This Year

Although overall food prices are on the rise, the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner is down 4%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual cost survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving …

Key Lessons from the KIND Acquisition by Mars

Mars’ acquisition of the KIND brand is more than the latest or the largest strategic acquisition by a large food company. In this acquisition, the real “news” is the lessons its 16-year development contains for …

Amazon Cuts into the Pharmacy Business

Amazon opened an online pharmacy Nov. 16, allowing customers to order medications and prescription refills for delivery, reported CNBC (Nov. 17). The retail giant has been building its pharmacy offering for several years now. In …

Walmart is Shedding Global Operations, Focusing on Digital

Walmart has recently made business moves that  indicate it’s shifting its focus from international markets to digital operations. International Divestures In 2018, Walmart sold an 80% stake in its Brazilian operations to a global profit …

Consumers Shift to Premium Brands While Grocers Reinstate Purchase Limits

Grocery shoppers are gravitating towards more premium products, according to data from IRI. Unlike the beginning of the pandemic, when consumers raced to stock up on household staples, shoppers are now turning toward specialty items …

C-Stores Profit from Pandemic

More than half of c-store operators said they expect their total 2020 sales to be at least somewhat higher than last year’s profits, according to CSP Daily News’  latest Outlook Survey. Thirty-nine percent anticipate their …

Digitally Mature Grocers Have an Advantage with Shoppers

The most “digitally mature” grocery retailers are capturing a considerably greater share of the growth of a growing shopping modality, according to the results of 2020 Grocery Digital Maturity Benchmark Study from Incisiv, reported Winsight …

Grocery Gains Could Evaporate Without Consumer Loyalty, But a Vaccine Looks Promising

Grocers’ COVID-19 gains with consumers could evaporate quickly in the year ahead, unless grocers refresh their approach to customer loyalty, according to a Bain & Co. report, reported CNBC (Nov. 9). The firm said that …

As COVID-19 Cases Rise, How are Grocers Helping with Testing?

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 …

There’s a Spice Boom Emerging, but Access to Packaging is a Concern

There is a spice boom occuring as more consumers are cooking at home. But as demand steadily increases, spice companies say access to packaging is becoming a challenge,  reported Seattle Times (Nov. 3). In July, …

Walmart and Ocado Make Opposing Moves with Robots

Walmart decided to stop using robots that move through the aisles checking inventory levels and prices after seeing the results from about 500 stores. In January, the retailer announced plans to expand use of the …

Positive Quarterly Earnings Results Reported for the Food Industry

Companies in various sectors of the food industry reported positive quarterly results. Foodservice Starbucks expects to recover and return to growth in 2021 after a fourth quarter where its same-store sales in the Americas declined …

Albertsons Adds Contactless Options to Simplify Grocery Shopping

Albertsons Companies introduced Albertsons Pay, a new zero-touch checkout experience. Available through its updated just for U loyalty app, it offers shoppers with a secure and contact-free way to pay, use discounts, and earn rewards. The new technology is …

Grocers Prepare for a Second COVID Wave During Holidays

Grocers and suppliers feel more prepared for a second surge of COVID-19, reported The Boston Globe (Oct. 19). Most grocers and wholesalers began stockpiling items that were popular during the first wave of shutdowns. Some …

Vertical Farming Investments Grow

Vertical farming company Plenty Unlimited Inc. attracted $140 million in a Series D financing round that included existing investor SoftBank Group Corp., as well as berry producer Driscoll’s, reported Bloomberg (Oct. 14). The new raise …

Amazon Strikes Deal with SpartanNash

Amazon issued a warrant to purchase up to 5.4 million shares in SpartanNash, according to a filing with SEC, reported The Motley Fool (Oct. 9). The warrant has been issued specifically to Amazon.com NV Investment …

Retailers Rethink Strategy

Several retailers have been working on re-strategizing their operations recently. Dollar General is looking to attract more high-income shoppers, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 8). The company is planning to open a new brand …

Whole Foods Feels Pressure from Pandemic

Although much of the grocery industry is prospering, trips to Whole Foods in September were down 25% from a year earlier, according to Placer.ai, reported Bloomberg (Oct. 7). Some of the decline is due to …

Walmart Sells Majority Stake in Asda

Walmart sold a majority stake in Asda to a consortium that includes brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and the private equity firm TDR Capital in a deal that values the supermarket chain at about $8.8 …

How Coronavirus, the Election, and Holidays are Impacting Spending Habits

Although shoppers have been primarily driven to make grocery purchases based on health and safety concerns during the pandemic, a second layer of consumption behavior has been emerging from those experiencing financial restraint, according to …

Retailers Prepare for Possible Second Wave

Grocers are stocking up to prepare for a possible surge in sales amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the holiday rush, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 27). Food companies …

Grocers Invest in New Technology to Increase Efficiency

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 …

Convenience to Push Fast Food Ahead of Casual Dining this Winter

Fast food may weather winter better than casual dining as the pandemic continues and flu-season arrives, reported MarketWatch (Sept. 21). Analysts are boosting their ratings and targets for fast food companies, in large part, due …

Coronavirus’ Effect on Restaurants Versus Retail

While restaurants continue to feel the weight of the pandemic, retailers are still benefiting. Nearly one in six restaurants, representing 100,000 foodservice establishments, have closed permanently or long-term in the six months following the first shutdown orders …