consumer trends Archives
Posted inSnacks Brands, Grocery News, Home Page Slider, National

NPD Group: The Future Is Bright For Snack Foods

Once seen as guilty pleasures, snack foods have and will continue to evolve to be eating occasion solutions for a nation of consumers constantly on-the-go, reports The NPD Group in its recently published “Future of Snacking” report. Americans consumed nearly 386 billion ready-to-eat snack foods last year, with the vast majority of those eaten between […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National

Survey: Shoppers Overwhelmingly Prefer Grocery Stores To Buying Food Online

Despite an abundance of new options for buying groceries online, American consumers still overwhelmingly prefer to do their shopping in stores, according to a new survey sponsored by Vixxo, a facilities management company. The research also found that providing an exceptional in-store experience and high-quality food are key drivers for keeping supermarket customers happy and loyal.  […]

Posted inNational, Aldi, Costco Wholesale, Home Page Latest News, Store News

Study: Trader Joe’s, Costco, Aldi Offer Best Customer Experiences

Budget-friendly, community-oriented grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, Costco and Aldi offer some of the best customer experiences of 2018, according to a new study from global customer agency C Space. The study demonstrates that it is the emotional aspects of customer experience that help companies stand out from the competition and create growth. C Space, […]

Posted inSnacks Brands, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National

U.S. Salty Snacks Market To Reach $29 Billion By 2022

How Americans eat has evolved to match the frequently hurried, harried and hectic lifestyles of today’s consumers, says market research firm Packaged Facts. That shift has been a boon to convenient food options, including salty snacks such as potato chips, popcorn and pretzels. In its new report, “Salty Snacks: U.S. Market Trends and Opportunities,” Packaged Facts […]

Posted inFood Service News, Bakery News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National

Survey: Gen Z, Millennials Apt To Try More Adventurous Donut Flavors

Bakery supplier Dawn Foods’ inaugural Donut Day survey found that 82 percent of Gen Z (ages 18-21) and Millennial (ages 22-34) consumers are interested in trying unique and adventurous donut flavors, such as pickle, sriracha and s’mores. For nearly 100 years, Dawn has supplied bakers with the ingredients needed to produce all kinds of donuts—mashups […]

Posted in, Aldi, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News

Market Force Names Aldi ‘Value Leader’ For Eighth Consecutive Year

Aldi continues to beat out the competition when it comes to value, according to a Market Force Information survey of nearly 13,000 U.S. consumers. For the eighth consecutive year, Market Force has named Aldi as the “Value Leader” among grocery retailers included in the survey. In addition to earning the top spot for value, Aldi […]

Posted inFood Service News, Association News, Deli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National

FMI Revisits The Power Of Foodservice As Home-Prepared Dinners Decrease

By 4 p.m., 65 percent of shoppers don’t know what they’re going to have for dinner, but they do know they want it to be fresh, healthy and convenient—an intersection that places retail foodservice in a prime growth position if it’s well executed. In its new report, “The Power of Foodservice 2018—Part 2,” the Food […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Supply Chain News, Whole Foods

The Future Of Retail Is Want-Driven Vs. Need-Based

First of all, brick-and-mortar stores are “never, ever going away.” But what they need to become may make some people uncomfortable. That is according to Michael Rogosa, global research director at Planet Retail RNG, who spoke to ROFDA members about the long-term future of retail during the group’s spring conference. He said that as brick-and-mortar […]

Posted inStore News, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, National, Whole Foods

Wegmans Tops Survey As America’s Favorite Grocery Store For Third Straight Year

Wegmans is America’s favorite grocery retailer, according to an annual consumer study of more than 12,800 shoppers conducted by Market Force Information. Publix, which tied with Wegmans for the top spot last year, is a close second, followed by Trader Joe’s, Aldi and H-E-B. This is the third consecutive year that Wegmans has ranked first in the study, […]

Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National

Acosta: Mix Of National, Private Label Brands Key To Retailer Success

As the brick-and-mortar grocery industry faces increasing competition from all angles, an effective brand strategy can be the key to sustained success for retailers. Shoppers turn to different brands for different needs and seek a balance when it comes to retailers and brand offerings, according to Acosta—a full-service sales and marketing agency for the consumer packaged […]

Posted inDairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Consumers’ Expectations In Dairy Products Changing

The list is long of what consumers are demanding from their dairy product favorites, including qualities like sugar reduction, value-added ingredients, portability and clean labels. The themes play out across dairy’s four leading categories: cultured products, cheese, milk and ice cream. According to the National Dairy Council (NDC), nutrition experts agree that it is best […]

Posted inDairy News, Association News, Grocery News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Southeast

Survey: Parents Unsure How Much Calcium Children Need

The Dairy Alliance (formerly the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association) surveyed more than 1,000 parents in the Southeast to learn about their family’s milk, yogurt and cheese consumption habits to understand the most pervasive myths about dairy in honor of May’s National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Allison+Partners Research + Insights surveyed adults in Alabama, Louisiana, North […]

Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Whole Foods

Conference Speaker: Trends Behind ‘Retailmaggedon’ Aren’t Going Anywhere

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest & Midwest (Editor’s note: Part two of this story appeared in the May Southwest edition of The Shelby Report and now is available here.) During the Annual Meat Conference in February, Neil Stern took on the challenge of discussing how grocers can maintain relevancy in the midst of a retail environment that […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

IGA Is ‘Upbranding’ Before Switch To Digital-First Marketing

Shoppers will always want three things from their local grocery store: value, convenience and selection. Those have been the top three attributes shoppers have sought out for many decades. What has changed over time are the qualities that come next, said IGA President and CEO John Ross. “You start asking them ‘what would make a […]

Posted inRecommended Reading, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Content

Recommended: Five Global Cuisines To Watch In 2018

Fascination with the foods and culinary practices of other countries is intensifying as chefs and restaurateurs expand their global horizons to accommodate adventurous patrons seeking new flavor experiences and dining directions. Culinary professionals cite this growing interest in international foodways as being one of the most influential trends shaping the industry today. The National Restaurant […]

Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Sustainability News

Majority Of Americans Trust Fairtrade Label

Fairtrade America partnered with the research firms Globescan and Atlantic 57 to explore consumer attitudes and perceptions around product labels. According to Globescan’s findings, 55 percent of Americans trust the Fairtrade label. People aged 25-44 reported even higher levels of trust, approaching 66 percent. Today’s shoppers are confronted with an overwhelming number of options—the average […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Whole Foods

Survey: 60% Of First-Time Online Shoppers Willing To Try A New Grocer

RichRelevance, a provider of personalized shopping experiences, has released key findings from a new study that looks at consumer preferences and behavior around digital grocery. The study identifies consumers’ appetite for digital grocery and picks out early leaders, as well as the features and capabilities that shoppers want. The survey of 1,500 U.S. shoppers finds […]

Posted inDeli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National

New Nielsen Research Highlights Opportunities For Meal Kit Sales

While the food retail landscape isn’t one that sees an over-abundance of frequent, market-shifting innovation, meal kits are proving to be just that, according to global information and measurement company Nielsen. In just a few short years, they have carved out a unique—and profitable—niche in the U.S. grocery landscape. And what’s more, they’re no longer […]

Posted inOrganic Natural, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National

More Than Half Of Hispanics Mainly Buy Natural & Organic, Report Finds

The rising influence of organic and clean label products have permeated virtually every segment of the food and beverage industry, from kid foods to adult beverages. But beyond store shelves, the impact of the organic and clean label movement increasingly is taking root within ever more diverse segments of the American consumer population. This is […]

Posted inHealth & Wellness, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Organic Natural

U.S. Kids Food Market Is About The Parents Too, Finds Packaged Facts

Perhaps more than any other consumer packaged goods segment, the kids food market requires marketers to take a dual approach to satisfy the needs and interests of both parents (as the purchasers) and kids (as the consumers). The influence of kids on the household grocery habits is well documented, but parents are becoming more determined […]