FI Fast Break audio news: May 22, 2024

The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on Target’s plans to reduce prices on several items this summer.

Is the Future of Retail Bionic?

As more work is being published (and more health-focused products manufactured) to improve health and happiness, we may be entering an era in which the average human life can not only be improved, but extended. Are store managers ready for what that means?

Consumer Shift: Private-Label Snacks See Unprecedented Popularity

For the first time in the report’s history, the top six brands – all of them – are store brands, from retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

Top 3 Spring/Summer Trends in Retail

In a few short years, retail will be a totally immersive and data-driven experience highlighted by personalized AI recommendations for health and home, smart carts to increase efficiency (and solve the traveling salesman’s dilemma in-store), and much more.

The Future of Retail, Part 3: The Immersive Retail Environment

“Customers will step into a retail environment where every interaction is personalized, guided by AI algorithms that efficiently navigate shoppers through aisles and offer tailored product suggestions in real time,” fostering brand loyalty and elevating the consumer experience to “unprecedented satisfaction levels.”

The Future of Retail, Part 2- Tomorrow’s Tech

To further understand how inventory and supply chain will change, Jarvis said the end of data silos must be achieved “to create a holistic understanding of each shopper, their interactions, and the stream of information being shared with them.

The Future of Retail – The 10,000-ft. View

“By 2030, visiting a Target, Walmart, or Costco won’t just be about shopping,” said Diana Zheng, head of marketing at Stallion Express, a leading e-commerce shipping company from Canada, “It will be an experience. An immersive experience. A personalized experience, even a social experience.”

Report Reveals Scarcity of Retail Innovation

From number-crunching untold volumes of data to helping streamline inventory, supply chain, and predictive market trends, there is no digital limit to what AI can help operators achieve.

Consumers Award Better-for-You in New Product Survey

Despite some titans of the pantry and cookie jar winning in their categories (Keebler’s Chips Deluxe Fudgy in the Cookie category; Dr. Pepper Strawberries & Cream in Soft Drink), better-for-you offerings not only abounded but won several snacking categories.

Taking Stock of Wellness: Target Launches Wellness Initiative

The least expensive products will start at just $1.99 and range from apparel to supplements, vitamins to technology, and more. Many of the offerings will be exclusive to Target and complement its dedicated online wellness destination that features ideas, meal inspiration, and more.

The Fiercest Battle in Retail: Foot Traffic, Trips, and Loyalty

EV charging stations outside, stores within stores inside, sprawling beauty sections, niche products, reimagined loyalty programs – the battle for foot traffic is cutthroat as the economy roars to life.

The Age of Retail Media Networks 2.0 is Already Here

The second wave of retail media networks is already upon grocers and retailers – and CPG makers could be among those to benefit the most.

‘Gen Z’s Most Magnetic Brands’ Report Praises McDonald’s, Starbucks

McDonald’s has nearly as much brand magnetism with Gen Z as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Ariana Grande. And in 2023, the purple-hued force of attraction that connected the burger giant with young consumers was …

Retail Theft is a Growing Problem – Can the Tide Be Turned?

Major retailers including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Walgreens, and CVS have all recently decided to close locations across major US cities, raising concerns about the future of retail in some of the most distinguished business …

Candy & Spice and Everything Nice: Holiday Hits Retail Earlier Than Ever as Spending Shrinks

It’s not just the days that are getting shorter – the amount of time between glimpsing ghouls and buying roof clips for Rudolph is shrinking, too. Home Depot sold out of its first run of …

Growing Up – CEA & The Future of Indoor Farming

What’s next for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) space after a spate of bankruptcies and rising inflation?

What Target’s ‘Drive Up with Starbucks’ Signals For Curbside Pickup

While the mid-pandemic rush around curbside pickup has cooled off, the potential benefits for consumers and retailers alike are still shaping the grocery landscape. The number of shoppers opting in for the convenience of in-car …

Prime Day Deals Could Spur Retail Revival

Amazon’s two-day Prime Day event starts July 11, and retailers are hoping it lifts the restraint consumers have been exhibiting since the beginning of the year. Call it Christmas in July. The annual sales orgy …

When Wallets Are Tight, Concentrate on Quality & Convenience

When consumers start tightening their wallets due to economic conditions, they start choosing between price and convenience. And in the case of major retailers, it becomes a struggle to decide where to concentrate efforts. “Companies …

Grocers Tap into Health and Wellness Trends

Grocers looking to stand out can tap into two trends: the demand for healthy foods and growing interest in cooking at home.

FI Newscast (March 3, 2023) – Featuring Hunter Thurman, Alpha-Diver

Welcome to the FI Newscast! Each week, we note the latest industry trends and consumer insights, with guest appearances by the foremost industry experts. This week’s guest was Hunter Thurman, President of Alpha-Diver – one …

Upping the Ante: Walmart Joins List of Retailers Increasing Pay

Now that Walmart has joined Target and Costco by raising their minimum pay to about double the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, fast-food outlets may have to consider boosting their minimum to $20 to …

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 16, 2022

The latest FI news podcast updates the push toward automation throughout multiple elements of the food industry.

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.

The Keys to Marketing to Gen Z Consumers

Which brands are most popular among Gen Z? That question was examined in depth in a recent Morning Consult report. And, included among social media brands like TikTok and gaming entities like Twitch, plenty of …

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?

Amid Labor Shortage, Gen Z Demanding ‘EWA’ Pay

Companies like McDonald’s are allowing workers to access hourly pay on demand in the hopes of shoring up the ongoing labor shortage.

Supermarket Stocks Flip the Script on Big Box Retailers

The trend of pure play grocers struggling has flipped since 2020, with supermarket stocks for grocers like Albertsons holding their own.

Retailers Overloaded with Inventory at Summer’s Outset

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Consumers likely will be in luck this summer as retailers, whose inventories have swollen largely due to the pandemic and shifts in buying behaviors, try to rationalize their stocks amid …

Analysts: More Retailers Should Adopt Last-Mile Gig Delivery

In a recent Barclays conference call, a team of analysts discussed the success of gig delivery and how it could become a compelling offering for retailers. Here’s a look at the key takeaways from the …

Warehouse Operators Get Creative to Prep for Hectic Holiday Season

As they brace for what’s expected to be intense holiday demand, warehouse operators are boosting pay, acquiring more talent, and enlisting robots, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 26). TALENT ACQUISITION PUSH Demand for distribution …

How Amazon is Changing the Grocery Landscape

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 …

Major Food Companies Turning to Unprecedented Measures to Find New Hires

Dealing with a shallow labor pool, major companies are increasingly turning to creative – and, in some cases, controversial – measures to attract new hires. Here’s a look at some unique moves made recently along …

National Dog Day: Food Companies Catering to Pets Like Never Before

As the calendar turns to National Dog Day, it’s apparent as ever that food and beverage companies are catering to pets these days. BEER BRANDS CATERING TO DOGS Is American beer going to the dogs? …

Walmart Makes Major Play in Last-Mile Delivery

Walmart plans to open up its in-house delivery platform, Spark Driver, to other businesses. The retailer is doing so to allow the independent contractors out delivering Walmart merchandise to make additional deliveries along the way, …

FI Fast Break audio news: Aug. 11, 2021

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine how consumers are stocking their pantries due to the Delta variant, the restaurant industry’s recovery, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI …