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Bacon jazzy, but slipping and sliding
Bacon is a meat of multiple personalities. It jazzes up salads with extra taste and protein, it's a component of the classic American breakfast, a craved topping of burger fanatics, and a powerful flavor ingredient in many dishes.
Many people realize neither its international pedigree as a popular grilled meal in Korea nor its mythological stature in Mexico.
Bacon is so flavorful that people can often get their fix with small bits rather than hefty strips. read more
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Value drives us food shopping decisions, though elsewhere in the world, not so much
Perhaps it is a sense that the economy is going to get worse before it gets better, or perhaps it is an inherent frugality that is demonstrated by US consumers. Whatever the reason six out of ten US consumers say that "good value for money" is the prime reason that they choose where to spend their food dollars. That is a big percentage, but it pales next to international attitudes toward value; 85 percent of global consumers say that good value is the reason they choose where to shop for food. read more
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Babies chill with refrigerated foods
Few can resist doting on happy, healthy babies, especially our own. When it comes to feeding them, major brand makers have developed an authority that breeds confidence in moms using their productseven if moms might equal or surpass what's in these jars with careful ingredient buying and a food processor.
That, however, would take time and a commitment from weary caretakers that most aren't able to give. read more
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Canned soup sales showing lukewarm sales increases
Total canned soup sales in the US for the year ending 12/1/07 increased just 0.6 percent over the previous 12 months in terms of equivalized unit volume (EUV, 16 ounce basis), a hike that was one of the lowest in recent years, suggesting that increasingly fresh-conscious consumers may be seeking out alternatives that are preventing this 2.3 billion (EUV, pints/pounds) category from any sort of significant growth. read more
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In chocolates, bitter is better of late
Americans by the millions covet their frequent chocolate treats. Ever since medical studies suggested that dark varieties might actually be healthful, people have been consuming these more often and with greater glee and less guilt.
They rationalize by focusing more on the anti-oxidant properties of dark chocolate, and less on nutritional concerns such as calories, caffeine, fat and sugar content and tooth decay. read more
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Effective Communication of Dietary Fats
Fats are a mystery to consumers, says a recent International Food Information Council (IFIC) report. Based on focus group research conducted in June 2007, the report found that while many consumers recognize common fats labeling and ingredient terms, many are unclear as to which fats to eat more or less often. As a result, they may continue to make less healthy choices.
In conducting the study, IFIC learned that the language used to communicate information about dietary fats is unclear. read more
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CHANNEL WATCH
The Nielsen Company estimates that during the 52-week period ending on June 30, 2007, nearly $8 billion was spent across all retail channels in the vitamin category which includes multiple vitamins, children's flavored-chewable vitamins, vitamin B complex w/C, vitamins/tonics-liquid & powder, minerals, protein supplements, nutritional supplements, complete nutritional products, and remaining vitamins. read more
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Why "diet foods" may not on your shoppers' New Year's Resolutions List
It is typical that as the New Year dawned, so did the plethora of resolutions that Americans in order to improve their lives; 2008 may well be the year that the typical diet food falls to the side as we actually start thinking holistically about losing weight.
After all we see Kraft's South Beach Diet brand evolving into South Beach Living and products like the new Frosted Flakes Gold (while certainly not a diet food) switching to whole grains and using their packaging to empower our youth to the ways of sportsmanship and exercise. read more
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FMI Annual Financial Review
For this in-depth financial review of the supermarket industry with key ratios and trends for benchmarking performance, click here.
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Phil's Supermarket
Give your products a Second Life! Where can more than seven million consumers connect with your brand around the clock? CLICK HERE for more information.
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U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2007
FMI's best-selling report, U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends, tracks the consumer environment as well as the attitudes and behaviors of American consumers as they relate to and impact the food industry. The report focuses on better data and knowledge of the grocery shopper, understanding the role of food and nutrition in today's society and providing retailers and suppliers with operationally useful information needed in serving, communicating and improving relations with their customers. read more
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Food, Nutrition & Science
We've just launched a brand new monthly newsletter: Food, Nutrition, & Science from The Lempert Report.
Our mission is to provide retailers and brands with the latest food news and the tools needed to better serve and empower our shoppers to make the best food choices possible. Each issue will contain interviews with leading researchers, nutritionists and trend setters. read more
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There are 147 million telephone numbers on the national "Do Not Call" list. That is more than the total number of people who voted in the last presidential election. The legislation that created the registry, signed into law in 2003, is wildly popular and has done much to reduce free-time interruptions.
Unlike 2005 and 2006, gasoline prices didn't drop in the fourth quarter of 2007 to enable most U.S. consumers to do their typical holiday binge buying. Rather, we saw gas prices top and linger around the $3.00 mark with per gallon prices 70 to 80 cents higher than year ago. Holiday sales figures for bellwether apparel and electronics categories were disappointing for the industry, but with all of the retailers offering deep discounts to drive sales, U.S. 
