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November 2009
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Speaking the Language of Private Brands
As competition increases, store brands have become more important than ever in providing retailers with a unique point of differentiation and the ability to drive overall shopper satisfaction, store loyalty and profitability. The share of private-brand items as a percentage of total items has increased for several years running and now represents 14.3 percent of total sales. As the recession fuels more shoppers to be price conscious, 68.0 percent of shoppers say that economic conditions were an important influence on buying more store brands. read more
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The Top Food Trends for 2010
There is little doubt that our grocery shoppers are yearning for optimism after the past 20 or so months of this faltering economy. Brand Credibility is more important than ever and both retailers and CPG brands are understanding that without consumers trust, the future will be bleak.
There is a New Consumer Reality; people eating more meals at home, homemakers evolving from food assemblers to cooks, switching brands based on sale prices, and even discovering new store formats like Save-A-Lot, Grocery Outlet and Aldi and making these part of their regular shopping trips. read more
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Growth opportunities beyond the 'savings' headlines
Retailers have plenty of opportunities to grow year-over-year sales comps, even though shoppers seem hell-bent on savings. 'Impossible' according to today's headlines, but 'probable' with the deeper study of where people are compromising and where they won't.
For example, Americans at all income levels are refusing to sacrifice quality, value and nutrition to save money on food and health and beauty care purchases. read more
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Purchasing Influences
Taste still matters, according to findings in the International Food Information Council Foundation's (IFIC) 2009 Food and Health Survey. The annual survey, which provides insight into how consumers view their own diets and their efforts to improve them, found that 87% of Americans (up from 84% in 2008) trust their taste buds more than any other influencing factor when filling their grocery cart. read more
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Pump up your PL supply chain
Cost Plus World Market, the home décor retailer, sells almost 80% of its merchandise in private label. It deals with primary vendors directly and has a direct import strategy that keeps its product pipeline rich and streamlines costs.
It was able to slash private-label sourcing costs by 25% year-over-year by improving logistics, EDI and POS strategies, and becoming more transparent in vendor relations, said Sahir Anand, research director-retail, hospitality and CPG, of Aberdeen Group, in a recent webinar, Five Critical Success Factors for Private Label Retailers. read more
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Food Price Deflation|Foodservice Employees & Smoking
TLRTV is a 5-minute videocast designed specifically for the B2B Food World with a focus on Marketing Analysis, Issues & Trends. In this week's report...
Look for food price inflation to escalate next year based on new projections from the Department of Agriculture reports The Food Institute. Overall food prices in the United States in 2010, including food eaten at-home and away-from-home, are expected to rise between 3% and 4% with retail food prices seen rising between 2.5% and 3.5%, and food-away-from home prices up 3.5% to 4.5%. read more
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Tea label claims a mixed bag
When the going gets tough, the tough drink tea.
So many movie scenes where adult characters consider complex matters over a calming cup of tea are being mirrored in real-life households across America. It's completely understandable: moms and dads have plenty on their minds these days, and they appreciate the soothing steam, the fragrant aroma, and the therapeutic effects of many different kinds of teas on the market today. read more
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UFCW website aims to sway Colorado shoppers
All eyes are on Colorado, where the first major grocery labor strike has surfaced since the recession began. And while consumers might have historically shown sympathy for one side or the other, depending on the issues at hand, nobody knows for sure how today's struggling households will react if a grocery workers strike comes to pass - particularly with so much economic uncertainty ahead.
Would shoppers go out of their way to buy in worker-friendly stores, which might be less convenient or costlier, when they must keep their own tight budgets in line? Or might they resent workers who possibly earn more per hour than they do, who have the gumption to walk out on their employers?
Let's spare the details of current negotiations and processes for the moment. read more
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Retailers, aim high to stand out this holiday season
Since retailers got blown off their perilous tightropes in the recession of 2008-2009, they've been trying hard to regain their right balance - in sales growth, inventory levels, merchandising activities, staff levels, service, and other key elements that could help sustain their consumer appeals.
Crunch time for them is now, as Halloween kicks off the start of the prolonged holiday season that could save their fiscal years, if played correctly. read more
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Leverage the sunny side of eggs
Eggs may be a nutritional powerhouse food, and a cost-effective protein source made for today's economy. Yet with all that eggs have going for them, retailers aren't on their game when marketing this versatile center-plate item that fits every day part and even the stingiest of budgets.
Except for price promotions such as 18 large eggs for $1.49 that make an impact in circulars, store operators generally display little energy or creativity to drive egg sales—beyond the natural appeals of these ovals. read more
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Coupons are for the wealthier too
When wealthier people don't pick up restaurant tabs or leave poor tips, they're criticized with sarcastic comments like "that's how they got wealthy." Waitresses, cabbies and bellmen have been known to exact revenge, either in person or through social media.
Now, thanks to the recession, the upscale among us have a new tactic in their 'savings' repertoire that no one seems to mind: they're using coupons more, along with every other budget-conscious demographic group, according to the Second Annual Consumer Coupon Behavior Benchmark Survey conducted by HarrisInteractive for RetailMeNot.com. 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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Facts, Figures, & the Future Newsletter
Click here for your FREE subscription to Facts, Figures, & the Future.
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