To say the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted consumer behavior would be an understatement. Everything about consumers’ purchase behavior, from what they buy to where they buy it, has been shaken up, and everyone is calling into question things they once took for granted as “safe.” Here’s how these new trends in consumer packaging will impact […]
Category: National
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Nielsen Examines CPG Dollar Sales Data During Covid-19 Pandemic
Nielsen has released its latest total U.S. weekly dollar sales data, reflecting the one- and eight-week periods ending April 25, compared to those same time periods in 2019. In-store CPG is broken out by the top five growing categories this week, store department comparisons, early load-ups/basics, meat and dairy and others, as well as some […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, National
United Fresh Applauds New ‘Buy Fresh’ Produce Purchasing Program
USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) recently shared the details of the new “Buy Fresh” program to purchase $100 million per month in fresh produce from regional and local distributors whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels and other food service entities. The program is expected to continue for six months. […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Slider, National
Report: Hot Dogs Hit Double-Digit Sales Growth Again
The week ending April 19 marked the seventh week of multi-digit year-over-year sales gains for hot dogs, according to Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics. Dollar sales increased 29 percent and volume sales increased 21 percent over the week of April 19 versus the comparable week in 2019, according to data from IRI. National brands […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, National
United Fresh Names Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award Winners
Nine of the country’s most innovative chefs and foodservice professionals representing an array of culinary styles and backgrounds will be honored the week of June 15 during United Fresh Live!, as part of the United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award Program. The program honors chefs and their companies for their creativity in highlighting fresh […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, National
Report: Organic Produce Sales Jump 22 Percent In March
Total organic fresh produce sales were up 22 percent for March, with overall first quarter sales up eight percent in retail conditions unlike any ever experienced in the modern era of grocery retailing, according to the 2020 Q1 Organic Produce Performance Report released exclusively by the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners. Unprecedented consumer purchasing behavior across the United States because of COVID-19 […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, National
United Fresh Produce Association Switches To New Virtual Event
With the continuing COVID-19 crisis, the United Fresh Board of Directors has decided to move from an in-person event in San Diego this June to United Fresh Live!, a new, free virtual event that will connect customers, suppliers and colleagues across the industry. “During these past few weeks, we’ve all learned something about connections,” said […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Slider, National
Executive Order Issued To Protect Against Meat Shortages
The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) issued a statement after President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order April 28 to ensure the ongoing production of meat and poultry to feed Americans during the COVID-19 crisis. A portion of the order reads as follows: “It is important that processors of beef, pork, and poultry (“meat […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Latest News, National
Cors: Incorporate Influencer Marketing Into Your Marketing Strategy
by Laiza Cors/guest columnist, co-founder and CEO of Embello When companies think about being on social media, they view it as a mandatory marketing activity with questionable results. Outside of fashion, many other industries struggle to find their place on social media and lack the knowledge of how to use it to connect with their […]
Posted inNonfood Items, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Kraft Heinz To Hold 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders In Virtual-Only Format
The Kraft Heinz Co. will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in a virtual-only format due to continued public health concerns related to the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. As previously announced, the annual meeting will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Stockholders will not be able to attend the annual meeting […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Rite Aid Expands Covid-19 On-Site Testing: 24 Locations Across 8 States
Rite Aid continues to expand Covid-19 testing sites with 11 new locations opening Wednesday, April 22, in Delaware, Idaho, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Now spanning eight states and 24 store locations, all of Rite Aid’s self-testing sites […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National, Nonfood Items, Whole Foods
Strategy Analytics: Amazon Go Is Compelling But Niche Experience
Two years after opening the world’s first cashier-less convenience store “Amazon Go,” Amazon has expanded on its concept, opening a larger-format cashier-less grocery store. A new report from the User Experience Strategies Service (UXS) at Strategy Analytics outlines a consumer-focused evaluation of the Amazon Go Grocery experience. While ”Just Walk Out” shopping has the potential to disrupt retail, its broader […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
NRF: March Retail Sales Plummet During Coronavirus Pandemic
Retail sales saw their biggest monthly drop on record during March as the coronavirus pandemic forced restaurants, bars and many stores to temporarily close across the nation and stay-at-home orders also impacted gasoline sales, the National Retail Federation said April 15. But sales soared at grocery stores and were up at other retailers deemed “essential” […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Nielsen: Meat Still Top Growing In-Store Department During Pandemic
As the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) sweeps the world, consumers are being forced to dramatically change their purchase and viewing behaviors. Nielsen is tracking these changes and establishing clear navigation beacons for companies trying to understand the changes and plan for what comes next. The following information was updated for the week ending April 11. Everything […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Rite Aid Expands Covid-19 On-Site Testing With 7 New Locations
Rite Aid continues to expand Covid-19 testing sites with new locations opening Monday, April 20, in New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). New Rite Aid Covid-19 self-swab testing site locations include: Lansing, Michigan: 715 South Main Street in Eaton Rapids; Flint, Michigan: 9090 […]
Posted inProduce News, COVID News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, National
EFI Offers Resources For Farmworker Protection, Continuity Of Supply
In these times of uncertainty as the world responds to the coronavirus, Equitable Food Initiative has curated a library of best-in-class resources and practices that provides for employee communication during the current pandemic. EFI is a workforce development and skill-building organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer advocacy groups to promote responsible labor […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
New Study Reveals Covid-19 Impact On Americans’ Food Habits
Americans ordered to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic are being forced to find new ways to fulfill their daily responsibilities and occupy their free time. A new study released April 15—”America Gets Cooking: Food Trends During Covid-19″—offers a glimpse at how the coronavirus crisis is impacting adult American consumers’ food preferences and behaviors, […]
Posted inDairy News, Bakery News, COVID News, Deli News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, National
IDDBA Plans Live Webinar Series Through Remainder Of April
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is conducting live webinars throughout the remainder of April. Webinars are open to both IDDBA members and nonmembers. The April schedule is as follows: April 17: Retail Fresh Foods and COVID-19: What’s Next for Deli, Dairy, and Bakery—Since the beginning of March, producers and retailers in the fresh […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
Shoppers Praise Grocers’ Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
U.S. grocery shoppers are highly concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. The Hartman Group/FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker report from the first wave of research (March 21-26) finds that American consumers express a high degree of concern about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, with 92 percent concerned and 69 percent “extremely” or “very” concerned. The vast […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National
First Insight: Treatment Of Essential Workers Impacts Consumer Decisions
How essential retailers treat their employees during the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on consumer shopping decisions, according to a new study by First Insight. The company found that overall, 59 percent of respondents surveyed in early April stated that they would shop less at an essential retailer that has sick employees come […]