by Ellen Shuster, MS
It’s all about buying food here but the latest on portable blenders warrants attention: class action lawsuit https://thetakeout.com/blendjet2-portable-mini-blender-class-action-lawsuit-1850838781 and Consumer Reports’ concerns http://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-urges-cpsc-to-investigate-blendjet-2-portable-blenders/.
This 1 1/2 hour webinar: Helping Military Families Understand the Cost of Convenience is for military families and covers all purchasing but provides valuable insight into the factors that go into convenience purchases and payless payments. Slides and recording https://oneop.org/learn/147551/ .
Food delivery/drive-up…
Gopuff discounted college student membership https://www.grocerydive.com/news/gopuiff-delivery-commerce-fam-student-membership/693939/ .
Groceries AND drive-up
Starbucks at Target https://www.tastingtable.com/1362988/target-drive-up-starbucks-parking-lot/ .
Updated apps/updated websites…
Convenience stores catch shopper’s attention with updated apps, a popular trend https://www.cstoredive.com/news/7-eleven-redesigns-mobile-app/690511/ .
Aldi’s updated website https://www.thekitchn.com/aldi-testing-new-website-23577631 .
A Gen Z shopper’s take on regional grocers apps https://www.grocerydive.com/news/a-gen-z-shoppers-take-on-regional-grocers-apps/691197/ .
Ads/marketing…
Retail media: cooler screens, kiosks and more https://www.grocerydive.com/news/how-grocers-have-integrated-retail-media-so-far-in-2023/689455/ .
Walmart adds on-site video ads https://progressivegrocer.com/walmart-adds-video-storytelling-searches .
Hy-Vee’s in-house retail media to target your shopping behavior w/personalized ads, messages https://www.grocerydive.com/news/hy-vee-debuts-in-house-retail-media-network-groceryshop/694453/ .
Sustainability claims catching shopper’s attention https://www.retaildietitians.com/articles/how-to-communicate-sustainability-claims-to-shoppers/ .
Self-checkout & selling to shoppers https://progressivegrocer.com/how-self-checkout-adapting-meet-customer-retailer-needs .
Schnucks & smart carts https://www.grocerydive.com/news/schnucks-instacarts-smart-carts/688376/ . Localized marketing…some examples: a shopping cart that offers location-based coupons https://www.grocerydive.com/news/veeve-smart-carts-self-checkout-retail-media/652168/.
Some Stop & Shops redoing multicultural aisles https://www.grocerydive.com/news/stop-and-shop-multicultural-aisles-new-york-city/654244/ .
Restaurants expand into grocery https://www.fooddive.com/news/restaurant-brands-bring-recognition-familiarity-and-innovation-to-big-food/550232/ .
Looking ahead…Dynamic pricing (reducing price for food close to expiration) & supermarket food waste https://www.eater.com/23882230/supermarket-grocery-store-food-waste-dynamic-pricing-price-cuts .
Grocers & reducing ‘shrink’ at checkout https://www.grocerydive.com/news/shrink-computer-vision-groceryshop-toshiba-grabando-standard/694352/ .
Postbiotics options as gut health interest grows https://www.fooddive.com/news/postbiotics-pack-punch-gut-health-boom-continues/689181/.
More fresh food offerings from food retailers, an FMI survey https://www.retaildietitians.com/articles/top-takeaways-from-fmi-speaks-report/ .
Dollar General to expand private label https://www.grocerydive.com/news/dollar-general-expands-private-label-clover-valley/688949/ and expand fresh produce but they are losing money because they made more on non-food items https://www.supermarketguru.com/the-lempert-report/dollar-general-food-first/ .
Private labels: retailers’ makeovers: new labels, plant-based and organic options https://www.grocerydive.com/news/how-9-food-retailers-jazzing-up-private-brands/651943/ .
More General Mills breakfast, snack foods aimed at weight loss ahead https://www.fooddive.com/news/general-mills-weight-loss-foods-cheerios-oat-crunch-progresso-ratio-snacks/686315/.
Nestle to increase healthier foods by 2030, a 50% increase from 2022 https://www.fooddive.com/news/nestle-vows-to-increase-sales-of-healthier-foods-by-2030/695089/ .
Cheerios to reach all ages with ‘better-for-you’ ingredients https://www.fooddive.com/news/how-cheerios-works-to-stay-relevant-across-generations/690498/ .
Two flavored milks to debut – cereal flavored and maple waffles https://www.pennlive.com/food/2023/09/new-milk-beverages-from-nestle-taste-like-frosted-flakes-and-eggo-waffles.html .
This ‘n that…
Chicago studies city-owned grocery store https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/chicago-studies-possibility-city-owned-grocery-store .
Expiration dates -‘use by dates’ vary by state https://www.ecowatch.com/food-expiration-labels-dates-safety-ecowatch.html .
Cell-cultured meat is kosher https://www.foodpolitics.com/2023/09/cell-cultured-meat-recognized-as-kosher/
A first: female character on a Halloween cereal box https://thetakeout.com/carmella-creeper-general-mills-monster-cereal-new-2023-1850577483 . How food companies hide sugar warning labels from Mexican shoppers https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/21/kelloggs-mexico-nutrition-label/ .
Who I’m hurting when I shop at Walmart https://time.com/6307359/government-ftc-walmart-prices/ . Nutrition Facts label designer has died https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/09/25/burkey-belser-designer-of-ubiquitous-nutrition-facts-label-dies-at-76/.
A fascinating look at those prices ending in $.99 at the grocery store…left bias: when we look to the left digit of a price. In the real world it means we think a $2.99 item is cheaper than a $3.00 item even if it only differs by a penny https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/why-do-so-many-prices-end-in-9-how-left-digit-bias-increases-sales-boosts-profits.html