September 2011
Greenling: Delivering Groceries Differently
Farm fresh, sustainable, local. These are all today's buzzwords and the core of Greenling, a local food delivery systems business. The Lempert Report interviewed Mason Arnold, Co-founder and CEO of Greenling, known as the first and largest fresh, organic and local grocery delivery service in Central Texas. Greenling's stated mission is to enable a future that minimizes waste and packaging while making it easier and less time consuming to buy and cook fresh, local food.
Why shoppers are confused
There are two prevailing issues that have our shoppers confused, and I might even suggest - angry: rising food prices and contradictory nutrition information.
The food industry, from farm to shelf, is faced with never before price pressures - mostly due to weather conditions around the globe and oil prices that affect everything from animal feed to manufacturing costs to the delivery of goods. Many brands have taken the lead to reduce packaging or shift manufacturing process to reduce the impact of these escalating costs.
Juice and drink sales rebound
Dollar sales of juices and drinks are up again after their recession slide. Since shoppers want healthier choices, manufacturers have brought out lower-sugar and lower-calorie varieties, combined flavors, added nutrients and updated package graphics to more powerfully convey a good-for-you position for juices and drinks.
The next phase of group shopping
Group shopping is due for a transformation - and retailers that cultivate this behavior in their stores and on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare) have a good chance to gain disproportionately.
Moms drive restaurant choices
Family needs shape relationships between America's households and restaurants, yet recent studies point to moms as the primary decision makers for eating out and ordering in. What drives their choices in eateries? Kid-friendliness, healthy choices, ethnic flavors, deals and convenience, indicate findings of several different research projects.
Poll: Supermarkets, schools could do more to help kids eat healthier
Consumers are split over supermarkets' involvement in easing the path to better nutritional choices for children. While nearly four out of 10 adults (39%) say, "I never notice my local supermarket getting involved in kids' nutrition," almost the same amount (38%) say they "occasionally notice the store reaching out to help shoppers make healthy food choices for kids."
Despite premium prices, value-added produce grows
Produce price hikes during the second quarter of 2011 caused total unit volumes of fruits and vegetables to dip one percent versus a year ago, as consumers held their spending in line in this economy - with one big exception.
Red Meat Price Projection Eased For 2012, But Significant Increases are Still Seen | Loss of Large Predators Upsets Ecosystem Balance
Price of meats going down, but that's not the end of the story and how the ecosystem is out of balance, for today - Monday, September 12th, 2011. Exchanging unexpected pieces of knowledge.
Retailers need A-Game for smartphones
More powerful, refined mobile marketing strategies could help retailers and brand marketers keep pace with Americans' surging use of smartphones, tablets and cells. With these technologies in hand, consumers already know more than ever as quickly as they need about products, prices and user reviews - and they push stores to consistently bring their A-Game.
Consumer Panel: Healthy Purchases Results
There is no question that healthy eating is on the top of mind for all Americans, but just because we're thinking about it doesn't mean we're actually going to do anything about it. To find out how consumers are changing their habits, if at all, The Lempert Report surveyed the Supermarket Guru consumer panel, and to our surprise, consumers report making a lot of healthy changes... even for special occasions.
IFIC Functional Foods 2011 Survey, Part I
Americans want to take advantage of the health benefits of foods, according to the 2011 Functional Foods/Foods for Health Consumer Trending Survey. The survey asked questions from a random sample of 1,000 U.S. adults about various attitudes toward health and consumer awareness of 34 different diet and health relationships.
