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July 2008
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Green Is the New Black
My FMI career started about four years ago in August of 2004. At that time, FMI was working on the Midwinter 2005 program, where retailer and supplier CEOs meet to learn about new and important trends. The big debate was whether or not to include a seminar on sustainability. The seminar made it on the program, but the CEO discussion afterwards was much like the one we had at headquarters beforehand: Does sustainability really have staying power or is it a fad that will fizzle out much like the low-carb trend? Now, barely four years later, it certainly seems that we have a decisive answer. read more
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Changing Retail Channel Shopping Behavior as Economy Weakens
Rising gas prices and inflation across a number of fast moving consumer goods categories are having a tremendous impact on how U.S. consumers shop. Comparing changes in channel shopping trips and average per-trip basket rings during the first quarter of 2008 versus year-ago, total outlet trips were down 1.1% and average basket rings were up 2.3%. This is supporting evidence to the increasing trend of consumers combining errands and trips to deal with a tough economy. read more
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The Culture of Sustainability
In the May 2008 Facts, Figures, & the Future®, Generation Zzzzzz was presented as one of the top trends affecting the marketplace. Identification of such trends is part of a major study and publication that Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) publishes annually on the health and wellness marketplace - the Health and Wellness Trends Report (HWTR).
Another top trend, The Culture of Sustainability, identifies the LOHAS (Lifestyles Of Health And Sustainability) consumer and market as a major contributing force to today's marketplace. read more
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Summer cookouts will cost more, but remain robust
Travel is one of the first places people cut back when pinched. As a result, stay-cations will be the memory-makers for many this summer, and cookouts will rise in prominence. Nielsen expects this trend to create a strong seasonal surge in classic cookout foods at food, drug and mass retailers starting immediately.
Nielsen issued a forecast in advance of the July 4 holiday that U.S. consumers will buy more than 110 million pounds, or $215 million worth of hot dogs, in the four-week period surrounding Independence Day. read more
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Ice cream sales seem frozen in time
The dessert we've coveted since toddlerhood ("I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream") has hit a flat patch with more people committing to buy and eat healthier foods, and spending less on even small indulgences in the sluggish economy.
Ice cream, already a $4 billion+ behemoth, isn't expected to post large annual percentage gains. Yet the category has barely budged the past four years, up a small spoonful from $4.17 billion in the 2004 period to $4.18 billion in the latest 52 weeks ended May 17, 2008, in U.S. read more
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Cheese, a versatile powerhouse
The versatility of cheese as a snack, appetizer or center-plate ingredient keeps it central to consumers shopping for diverse eating occasions. Retailers mindful of the many uses of cheese stir impulse sales with perimeter dairy shelf displays, specialty wells, center-store shelf extenders, and frequent sampling.
At an average price per pound of $4.48, up from $4.07 three years ago and a more modest $3.98 one year ago, cheese costs far more than chicken but compares well price-wise with other meat and seafood choices as a protein source, despite its large price rise this year. read more
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In batteries, large packs gaining power
The proliferation of portable electronic devices keeps battery sales moving at a powerful clip, though perhaps less robust than one might think. After all, many devices come with rechargeable cells that never need replacement; or if they do are sold by outlets other than food, drug and mass.
Nevertheless, the ever-connected, game-playing, music-loving, photo-taking, data-toting American consumer loves what batteries add to their lifestyleand continue to make the category one of the most space-efficient sales in the store. read more
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Dogs and cats, on a pedestal, lap up treats
While Paris Hilton might think of small dogs as fashion accessories, the 63% of American households that own a pet think differently. They so adore their 75 million dogs and 88 million cats (figures from American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) that they spend heavily and lavish treats on the creatures that give them unconditional love.
Since the massive pet food recall due to contamination from China in 2007, owners have grown more watchful than ever of labels, ingredients and nutrition of all edibles they feed their pets, including treats. read more
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CHANNEL WATCH
The Nielsen Company estimates that during the 52-week period ending on December 29, 2007, over $10.9 billion was spent across all retail channels in the Cereal category which includes Ready-to-Eat Cereal, Hot Cereal, Granola & Natural Types Cereal, Hominy Grits, and Wheat Germ. read more
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"The Facts Keep Changing" ...is it tomatoes, jalapenos, Serranos, cilantro, or something else?
If nothing else comes out of the confusion surrounding this Salmonella outbreak, I can only hope that the food world: retailers and manufacturers alike finally demand a unified and well-funded food service agency.
No one doubts that FDA's food safety Chief Dr. David Acheson is trying hard - but without the proper support in terms of manpower, technologies, and funding this now three-month-old "investigation" seems more like one under the command of Inspector Clouseau each day. read more
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The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2008
FMI's Speaks is the annual state of the industry report a must-have for everyone in the food industry. The report reviews important market trends affecting food retailing and evaluates the industry's performance in sales, profits, margins and a wide variety of productivity measures. Click here for more information.
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Facts, Figures, & the Future Newsletter
Click here for your FREE subscription to Facts, Figures, & the Future.
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Shopping for Health 2008
This report examines shoppers' interest and attitudes, as well as in-store activities, regarding health and nutritional concerns and the ways in which these play out in purchase decisions at the grocery store. Click here for more information.
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U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2008
FMI's best-selling report, U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends, is the industry source for data and knowledge of the grocery shopper to gain an in-depth understanding the role of food and nutrition in today's society. Click here for more information. 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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The Power of Meat 2008
An in-depth look at meat consumption, selection, marketing and purchasing patterns through the shopper's eyes. To obtain your copy of The Power of Meat 2008 or other FMI research and education materials, please visit www.fmi.org/store/
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