Some 47% of those hitting stores this week plan to redeem newly-received gift cards. The 2011 holiday shopping season will seemingly extend at least another week, as four in 10 Americans plan on hitting the stores over the next few days, according to a new Consumer Reports poll. Of those who will be shopping…
SymphonyIRI Report Examines Shopping Mission Trends
Times & Trends report finds pantry stock-up and quick trips account for two-thirds of CPG trips and dollar sales. It has long been a daunting task to stay in lock step with the shopper mindset. After all, mindsets are a moving target and can quickly change due to a variety of reasons, including purchase…
Global Brand Study Shows Simplicity is Key
Grocers, along with other retailers, could gross $1.9 billion more in profits if they better simplified customers’ experiences, report shows. For two years running, quick-service restaurants and supermarket chains, including Publix, Subway, McDonald’s, Whole Foods Market and Pizza Hut, have been listed among the top 10 simplest brands by U.S. consumers, according to results from the…
The Pantry Reports Q4 and Fiscal 2011 Results
“Fiscal 2012 represents an important transitional period for the company, as we focus on a pricing strategy that is intended to improve merchandise sales growth and align our gasoline volume with industry trends,” says The Pantry’s Interim CEO. The Pantry Inc. has announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended Sept. 29,…
Keeping the Menu Fresh
Foodservice customers are becoming value-conscious, a reflection of current economic conditions. Consumers are now expecting better value in terms of price, service, consistency and food quality. By John Lofstock, Editor. Bringing consumers into convenience stores to buy food requires a great offering at a good price. But with all the competition for share of stomach,…
C-Store Foodservice Challenges QSRs
“Convenience stores are increasingly falling into the same consideration set as fast-food restaurants,” says Technomic director. As convenience stores continue offering busy consumers more options for meals and snacks, new research by Technomic finds consumers are taking advantage of the expanding foodservice options, many times at the expense of quick-service restaurants. Of consumers polled on…
Deloitte Survey Shows Shoppers Expecting Discounts
Savvy consumers research brands and prices before heading into stores. Excitement over unexpected in-store deals has diminished as discounted prices become an anticipated part of the consumer products shopping experience, according to the Deloitte/Harrison Group annual American Pantry Survey. For nearly one-third (30%) of consumers, at least seven of 10 items in their shopping cart…
PLMA Awards New Product Honors
PLMA’s Salute to Excellence winners showcased within Idea Supermarket at PLMA Chicago trade show. Nearly two dozen retail chains and wholesalers from across the country were selected as the winners of PLMA’s annual Salute to Excellence Awards. The year’s winning products were featured during PLMA’s 2011 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago with a special…
Grocery Store Appearances Matter to Shoppers
Despite the additional perks a store might offer, basics such as store cleanliness and eye-catching signage most impact customer impressions. For its new research, Innovation Trends, Attitudes and Opportunities, IDDBA commissioned Datassential to explore consumer attitudes and interest in various forms of innovation. A key insight from the report is that for today’s grocery shoppers,…
Developing an Effective Menu
Foodservice operators must regularly develop new products and tweak old ones to pique consumer interest and attract repeat business. By Heather Henstock, Contributing Editor. Nice N Easy Grocery SHOPPES has long offered salads and sandwich melts. But the two menu lines didn’t reach their full potential until the convenience store chain hired three trained chefs…