Incisiv, an industry insights firm that helps retailers and brands navigate digital disruption, has released the findings of an executive survey, titled “Digital Complexity: Thriving in Unpredictable Times.” Conducted in partnership with Fluent Commerce, commercetools and Contentstack, the survey found that retailers expect major increases in operational requirements around fulfillment and digital-related functions in 2023. With the pace and complexity […]
Category: National
Posted inProduce News, National
Anticipation Building For Produce Industry’s Largest Gathering
The Global Produce and Floral Show will be the first time for the industry to come together under the new International Fresh Produce Association. Scheduled for Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, Florida, it will be the largest gathering of the year for the global produce and floral supply chain to connect and do business, according to […]
Posted inPackaging News, National, Snacks Brands
Mars Releases M&M’s Caramel Cold Brew Candies
M&M’s, a brand of Newark, New Jersey-based Mars, has released its latest product, M&M’s Caramel Cold Brew. The product features a combination of coffee and caramel, covered in milk chocolate and wrapped in a colorful candy shell. “More and more coffee drinkers are exploring new flavor combinations, with cold brew ranking as one of Gen Z’s […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
The Shopper’s Journey To Health And Wellness
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Consumers are increasingly concerned with being healthy, and at the grocery store, health and wellness means more than food and nutrition. Often built around an in-store pharmacy, health and wellness at the supermarket can include over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, nutritional supplements and other products designed to […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA Focused On ‘Advocating And Guiding’ With Unified Voice
The International Fresh Produce Association was launched Jan. 1 to bring a unified voice to the global produce industry. “United Fresh and PMA came together,” said Cathy Burns, CEO of the IFPA. “We established a new brand, a new vision, which is to bring the global produce industry together to create a vibrant future for […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Dunnhumby Reports Food Inflation Higher Than Anticipated
According to the latest dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker, Americans believe that food-at-home inflation has hit 22.8 percent, 9.7 points higher than the 13.1 percent annual rate reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The perceived rate of food inflation is 5.1 percent higher than the dunnhumby Consumer Pulse report from February, just after Ukraine was invaded. The […]
Posted inDairy News, National
NFRA Announces 2022 Golden Penguin Recipients
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association has announced the winners of the Golden Penguin Awards for its June Dairy Month and Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties promotions. NFRA promotions help the industry drive traffic in the frozen food and dairy aisles and increase sales for many categories and brands. In recognition of those […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, National
Food Retailers Pursuing Strategic Differentiation Strategies
Despite a challenging year marked by a persisting pandemic, historic inflation, supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages, the food industry is making significant investments to meet shoppers’ evolving tastes. That’s the assessment of FMI – The Food Industry Association’s annual comprehensive research report, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2022. The survey found that food retailers […]
Posted inC-Store News, Association News, National
NACS: Gas Prices Affect Consumer Driving Patterns
Nearly half of Americans say they are driving less than they did before the pandemic hit in early 2020, and they cite gas prices as the main reason why, according to a new national consumer survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores. Three in five drivers say gas prices are the main reason […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Tactics For Finding, Hiring Post-Pandemic Labor Force
I hear it all the time, “Eventually people have to come back to work, right?” Everywhere I go in the U.S. and other countries – as I talk to retailers, manufacturers, service providers and wholesalers – managers are wondering when workers will actually start working. During the pandemic, millions of workers worldwide lost their jobs or […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
As Food Industry Invests In Private Brands, Key Strategies Emerge
FMI – The Food Industry Association has released its second installment of “2022 Power of Private Brands,” which surveys food retailers and manufacturers about their private brands growth strategies. Retailers report having strong goals over the next two years for their private brand portfolio, with a current average dollar share of 18.2 percent and a goal […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Promote Beef Attributes To Keep Interest High During Inflation
By Michael Uetz, managing principal, Midan Marketing, strategic meat marketing, research and creative communications agency Consumers today are incredibly aware of and concerned about inflation, and it’s impacting the way they shop for groceries, especially higher priced items like meat or beef. In June, shoppers were paying 8.2 percent more than last year, on average, […]
Posted inExecutive News, National
Ahold Delhaize Proposes To Reappoint CEO Muller
Ahold Delhaize has announced that its supervisory board intends to propose the reappointment of Frans Muller as president and CEO and member of the management board at its annual general meeting of shareholders on April 12. “We are delighted that Frans will continue as president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, subject to shareholder approval,” said […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Releases Industry Commitments Regarding Food Insecurity
The National Grocers Association has released new industry commitments it has made in connection with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Heath to address food insecurity in the nation. Over the next two years, NGA will assist with improving access to grocery stores by working to increase the number of retailers authorized for […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Communities Need Grocers – And We Sure Do Need Them
As NGA’s president and CEO, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the country to visit our members, tour their stores and learn firsthand about the challenges the grocers face in serving their communities. NGA makes a point of saying it’s an association of independent community grocers. We talk quite a lot about the independent part […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Mission Produce Continues International Expansion
Mission Produce Inc., a company specializing in sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados with additional offerings in mangos, has announced plans to open a ripening, packing and forward distribution center in Dartford, England, in 2023. Strategically located with direct access to major international ports and transportation networks, the facility is expected to strengthen Mission’s […]
Posted inSustainability News, National
EPA’s GreenChill Program Celebrates 15th Anniversary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s issued a report marking the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership’s 15th anniversary that highlights partner achievements in supermarket refrigerant management. The EPA also presented the annual GreenChill awards for achievements made during the 2021 program year at FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Energy and Store Development Conference in Orlando, Florida. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Food Safety Time With The FDA
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs September is National Food Safety Education Month, and what better way to celebrate than with an FDA checkup. NGA hosted a recent webinar in which John Marcello, senior advisor in FDA’s Office of State Cooperative Programs (OSCP), offered a joint regulatory-industry perspective on retail modernization […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
IRI: Inflation Takes Bite Out Of Meat Dollar In August
Prolonged supply chain, labor, transportation and weather challenges in combination with high food inflation is resulting in an ever-changing nature of the marketplace. IRI, 210 Analytics and Marriner Marketing have brought the latest trends and analysis relative to meat department sales. Food inflation remains extremely high and consumers are feeling the pain. They are making changes […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Matlin Named Speaker At IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show
Actress and activist Marlee Matlin has been named as the women’s leadership breakfast speaker at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, Florida. Matlin, who will speak during the Oct. 29 morning general session, will speak on “Nobody’s Perfect: Achieving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access.” Due to scheduling […]