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January 2007
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Will Valentine's Day prove sweet for candy sales?
Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that can create stress for
most everyone: finding a date, securing restaurant reservations,
buying the right card and gift. Increasingly, holidays are stressed
by retailers and manufacturers as a way to boost sales of
confectioneries - a category that is synonymous with Valentine's Day.
Since Whitman and Cadbury first boxed chocolates in the
mid-1800s, candy has been considered to be a gift that can't miss. read more
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Another year, another challenge
Whenever new issues erupted for the supermarket industry, Ed Walzer,
my mentor and the long-time editor of Progressive Grocer, had
a simple saying he loved to offer: "In times like these, it pays to
remember that there have always been times like these."
It's worth thinking about that as we start a new year, and we
think of the challenges we face today and those faced by this
industry throughout its long history. read more
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Consumers on the edge - Part 2
In last month's F3 issue we showed you how low income
households (< $20,000 in annual income) had some similar and
different retail channel and retailer shopping patterns compared to
households with incomes of $100,000 or more. This month we are going
to share insights around what attributes affluent and low income
households consider when selecting a Supermarket or Supercenter to
shop. read more
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Big CPG crashes organics party
Organic foods have secured their seat at America's tables. For
decades, small boutique suppliers did all the missionary work opening
consumers' minds to the concept of organics as healthier
alternatives. Today, major CPG suppliers are crashing the party with
new organic entries augmenting their well-developed conventional
brand arrays. Some center-store examples include the ketchup, pasta
sauce and fruit spread categories. read more
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Americans may be getting cash wise as years go by
Once again, as Americans look at each other and say "Happy New Year,"
they also should look at themselves in the mirror and say "Thank God
for the Portuguese."
Why? Because of 43 countries around the world, Portugal has the
highest percentage of citizens - 23 percent - that has no money left
over after they paid their basic living expenses. It is a dubious
honor, and one that the United States held until last year, when
America fell into second place. read more
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Tequila. Misunderstood? Or the "next" vodka?
When most Americans think of tequila, it brings them back to their
college days - and unfortunately too often the memories tend to
surround bad headaches or even worse.
The truth is that tequila is one of the fasted growing spirits
with lots of growth potential. In order to merchandise tequila, it's
critical that retailers understand that this distilled beverage is as
complex as a fine brandy, scotch or vodka. read more
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Frozen pizzas score high at Super Bowl
The gusto of pizza-eating at Super Bowl time rivals fan enthusiasm
for the game itself. Loud and zesty, America's biggest pizza-eating
event of the year culminates the five-month-long football season, and
the bonanza for sellers of frozen pies continues to cook.
People gamble heavily on the contest's outcome, but one sure
thing is their faith in the food, as sales figures show. Millions
bypass takeout options from terrific local pizzerias to buy frozen
pizzas instead. read more
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Hearing aid batteries pump up the volume
There's a quiet revolution by the pharmacy counter that has little to
do with drugs, and everything to do with the biggest demographic
shift of our time: aging Americans in need of assistance to hear
well. Some younger people are hearing-impaired too, but it is seniors
and boomers who suffer hearing loss as a common chronic condition in
large numbers - and who may require two hearing aids rather than one
and plenty of spare batteries so they can keep up their activities. read more
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CHANNEL WATCH
ACNielsen estimates that in 2005, over $15.8 billion was spent
across all retail channels in the snack category which includes
potato chips, tortilla chips, corn chips, popcorn, pretzels, puffed
cheese, rice cakes, canned dip, and remaining snacks. read more
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To label...or not to label... is the question.
The issue of cloned foods entering our food supply at this point,
seems moot.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated last month that
it has concluded that meat and milk from cloned animals are safe to
eat and drink... and should be allowed to enter the food supply - but
here's the issue - to be sold without any labeling.
The announcement, made in a 678-word analysis that the FDA called
"strictly a scientific evaluation," was expected, though it runs
contrary to findings by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
that 64 percent of Americans are uncomfortable with animal cloning
and that 43 percent believe food from clones is unsafe. read more
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Facts, Figures, & the Future Newsletter
Click here for your
FREE subscription to Facts, Figures, & the Future.
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Consumer 360
Don't miss the #1 marketing conference for the CPG industry!
Consumer 360: Winning Today, Transforming Tomorrow
May 15 - 17, 2007 at
The Westin Diplomat
Resort and Spa in
Hollywood, FL.
Click here
to register today!
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FMI Annual Financial Review
This annual report provides you with a complete financial picture of
the supermarket industry as well as the external business
environment, including key ratios, balance sheet, income statement
and statement of cash flow. The results are provided for the entire
industry as well as by annual sales for more accurate benchmarking. read more
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Shopping for Health
This national survey examines shoppers' interest and attitudes, as
well as in-store activities, regarding health and nutrition,
consumers' efforts to manage their health, and the ways in which
health and nutritional concerns play out in purchase decisions at the
grocery store. This report brings a practical understanding of the
relationship between food shopping and health. read more
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Speaks
FMI's Speaks is the annual state of the industry report for food
retailers. The report reviews the important changes and trends and
puts them into an industry perspective. It presents detailed
information on supermarket operations, store-level benchmarks and
outlines strategic and competitive issues. read more
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Xtreme Retail 23 Newsletter
XR23 will provide you with the latest information and analysis of
technologies designed specifically for the retail environment.
CLICK HERE for
your FREE subscription.
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