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 …

Kroger Beats Earnings Expectations

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%, …

Preparing for a Pandemic Fall

Robyn Carter, founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation (JRI), joined the Food Institute Podcast to discuss consumer perceptions and desires during the pandemic. With the back-to-school season in full swing, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and …

A Second Grocery Stock Up on the Way

More than half of shoppers plan to stock up on groceries if another coronavirus-related shutdown occurs, according to data from Acosta. “As COVID cases continue to rise, most shoppers believe we’re headed for another shutdown …

Shopify Finds Winning E-Commerce Strategy

Shopify Inc. is seen as one of the biggest winners in the retail shakeout following the coronavirus pandemic, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 8). Millions of small businesses were forced to adapt to online sales …

Pandemic Highlights Value of Family Meals

September is National Family Meals Month, and FMI is highlighting proven scientific benefits of sharing meals. “We have long known that family meals have a tremendously positive impact,” said David Fikes, executive director of the …

Shoppers Connect with Private-Label Brands

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 …

Walmart Debuts Subscription Service, Amazon Gets Drone Approval

Retailers are developing new strategies in an effort to one up each other in the battle for delivery advantage. Walmart will launch Walmart+, a membership service that could help it better compete with Amazon Prime. …

Convenience Stores Adapt During COVID-19

Main Points:   Convenience stores must adopt practices to ensure employee and customer safety, such as contactless checkout The ability to shift focus to different day parts to achieve sales is essential Consumer loyalty is …

German Grocers Continue Expansion into U.S.

German discount grocers Aldi and Lidl have been capturing a larger share of the U.S. grocery market over the past several years. The stores have increased sales and attracted shoppers with simpler stores that offer …

Consumers Turn to Sweets During Pandemic

Sales of chocolate and candy increased during the pandemic as consumers look for products to boost their mood and lighten perspectives, according to data from the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Overall sales of chocolate and …

DoorDash Plans IPO, Diversifies with Grocery Delivery

DoorDash plans to open an initial public offering in the fall, according to people familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg (Aug. 22). The company had previously considered going public through a direct listing but decided …

How COVID-19 is Impacting Eating

Food Institute Focus – How COVID-19 is Impacting Eating

Will Meal Kits Retain Success Post-Lockdown?

Food Institute Focus – Will Meal Kits Retain Success Post-Lockdown?

Retailers Disrupt Milk Processing Industry

Food Institute Focus – Retailers Disrupt Milk Processing Industry

Moving Forward, Grocery Retailers Must Embrace Digital

Online grocery shopping has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, online accounted for less than 10% of food sales, according to Ernst & Young LLP (EY). By June, 45% of food sales were online. …

Gen Z’s Influential Food Preferences

Food Institute Focus – Gen Z’s Influential Food Preferences

Food Industry Continues the Fight for Social Justice

Food Institute Focus – Food Industry Continues to Fight for Social Justice

6 Concepts You Should be Thinking About Now – Rick Abraham

I heard a commentator on TV recently describe the coronavirus as an “accelerator.” In his words, the dramatic industry changes we are currently seeing would have happened anyway in a non-pandemic world, just not as …

Shifting Back to Sustainability

Food Institute Focus – Shifting Back to Sustainability

Walmart’s Latest Selling and Spending Activities

Food Institute Focus – Walmart’s Latest Selling and Spending Activities

First Half of 2020 Brought Major Change to Grocery Retail

As the new year rolled around, no one could have predicted the drastic changes grocery retailers would face in the first half of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic created major disruptions in consumer buying patterns, online …

Food Manufacturers Pivot in Face of Coronavirus

As consumers turned to stockpiling when stay-at-home orders were enacted at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, food manufacturers were forced to pivot to new operating models to ensure profitability. Avenues targeted included direct-to-consumer models, …

Food Businesses are on Frontlines of Mask Debate

Food Institute Focus – Food Businesses are on Frontlines of Mask Debate

Fourth of July Holiday Spurred Sales Gains

Food Institute Focus – Fourth of July Holiday Spurred Sales Gains

The Online Grocer Wave and the COVID Accelerant

Food Institute Focus – The Online Grocer Wave and the COVID Accelerant

Consumer Perception Drives Interest in Plant-Based Eating

Food Institute Focus – Consumer Perception Drives Interest in Plant-Based Eating

Walmart Launches an Amazon Prime Competitor

Food Institute Focus – Walmart Launches an Amazon Prime Competitor

Latest Deals Prove Grocery Delivery is a Necessity

Food Institute Focus – Latest Deals Prove Grocery Delivery is a Necessity

Pandemic Concern Remains High

Food Institute Focus – Pandemic Concern Remains High

Food & Beverage Companies Enter Age of Corporate Social Justice

Food Institute Focus – Food & Beverage Companies are Entering the Age of Corporate Social Justice