Over the past year, sales of dairy products in supermarkets and grocery stores have done very well, with milk up double digits to 10%, said Eric Richard, industry relations coordinator with the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA). In pre-pandemic February 2020, category sales were $58.3 billion, and by August, sales had soared to $63.7…
Cuellar’s Passion Shines Through as OnCue Category Manager
As the category manager of beer, wine and packaged beverage for Stillwater, Okla.-based OnCue Express, Kim Cuellar is responsible for space management and product selection as well as product optimization and promotion management. “Every time I tell someone I’m a beer and wine buyer, they respond, ‘That’s the dream job!’ And I say, ‘Yes, yes,…
Pandemic Sets the Table for C-Stores to Claim CBD Consumers
As homebound consumers shifted to online purchasing in 2020, many also gravitated toward cannabidiol (CBD) products to alleviate anxiety and promote general wellness. While that hurt in-store retail, it could bode well for c-stores to claim those consumers post-pandemic. “CBD did not perform well in the convenience channel in 2020,” said Don Burke, senior vice…
Been There, Done That: Plaid Pantry’s Nelson Is Ready for More
C-store veteran Mike Nelson, senior category manager for the 108-store Beaverton, Ore.-based Plaid Pantry chain, has seen a lot during his time in the industry. For his expertise in adapting to new products, new methods and new technologies during 30 years of c-store evolution, Nelson has earned CStore Decisions’ recognition as a leader in category…
NATO Celebrates 20 Years
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. The organization was founded in 2001 to fill a need for a national association that served tobacco outlet stores but has expanded to include every category of retail store that sells tobacco products. Over the past 20 years, NATO has succeeded…
Nostalgia Sells. Give It a Try
I had a good laugh the other day from a photo posted on Twitter. I follow a retail analyst who, like me, seems to have an ironic appreciation of poorly executed stores. The focus this time was a CVS in Scottsdale with its endless rows of garish “buy one, get one free” stickers dangling below…
Dash-In Parent Company Reaches $1 Million In COVID-19 Giving
La Plata, Md.-based The Wills Group announced an additional $500,000 in unrestricted grants to its regional food bank and local nonprofit partners as a continuation of its efforts to respond to the rising hunger crisis throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The round of grants brings the Wills Group’s philanthropic response to COVID-19 to $1 million since…
Proactive Steps in Turbulent Times
Let’s see a show of hands if you’ve become a fan of American Pickers, the Cartoon Channel or even the NFL because the news has become so darn depressing. In a few short weeks, the Biden Administration has reversed policies that led us to energy independence and fostered middle class economic wellbeing. Unfortunately, this is…
High’s to be Awarded Safe Shop Assured Certification
Today’s consumers have many choices when seeking convenient solutions for food and fuel. In order to stand out and cultivate loyalty, retailers must meet high expectations for cleanliness and safety. But it takes more than consistent execution. Much of the hard work happens behind the scenes, and retailers must communicate their commitment in ways that…
Hand Sanitizers See Biggest HBA Growth
In 2020, the health and beauty aid (HBA) category struggled overall, but sales of hand sanitizers and masks helped compensate for category losses. In a year when people worked and attended school at home, and when social gatherings were discouraged, in-store sales of certain HBAs slacked off substantially, especially cosmetics. There simply weren’t as many…