Search

For decades, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. served as a pillar in Southern grocery retail. Founded in 1923, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based retailer--in its prime--operated 1,000 stores throughout Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and […]

Gone are the days of morn-and pop drugstores on the corner in which the most enticing customer amenities included a soda fountain and rock candy. Although soda fountains and rock […]

The history books may not be kind to 2007. It was a year of worldwide political turmoil and economic unrest. In the United States, manufacturers, retailers and consumers watched helpless […]

Anyone who follows the happenings of the grocery industry likely would agree that the past several years--2006 in particular--have been challenging for Minneapolis-based Nash Finch Co. The company is one […]

We put out the call for contest entries, and the industry answered with some of the most innovative, functional and downright beautiful products that have been judged in the history […]

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] As the old saying goes: Only two things in life are guaranteed--taxes and death. To this decree--but in the world of retail--one thing is guaranteed: Wal-Mart will offer […]

From the tail-end of the Great Depression to the whirl-wind weekend of Woodstock; from V-Day to the moon landing; from FDR to George W., Price Chopper of Schenectady, N.Y., has […]

The United States shares a border with Canada that spans 3,145 miles, of which eight Canadian provinces adjoin 13 U.S. states. The border between the United States and Canada serves […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Home to some key staples in grocery retail, the dairy department has received quite a bit of attention lately. Product prices have increased across the board, resulting in […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Already one of the most trafficked aisles in the grocery store, the pasta and rice section has new appeal with customers. As their budgets continue to be squeezed […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The foil, wraps and kitchen storage category doesn't have a reputation for offering the same thrills, chills, bells and whistles as other categories in the grocery store. The […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cleaning house: It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. And whether you're Dirty Harry, Mr. Clean or Madge the Manicurist (of Palmolive fame), you're going […]

Nearly every segment of the cough and cold products category experienced a decline in unit sales over the past year, according to Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. Even category strong-holds such […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it comes down to it, quality is a subjective term, really. What's good for one might not be so great for another. With regard to the private […]

Next to organics, the growing population of Hispanic consumers is arguably the most talked about and focused-on segment in retail today. What is this group of shoppers--with a buying power […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Consumers have been "on the go" for quite a while. To better accommodate these rushed shoppers, grocery and drug stores have altered their product offerings--and in some cases […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pizza fits so well into the fabric of our lives--bachelors survive on it; kids celebrate their birthdays with it; first dates are centered on it; and tired parents […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Traditionally, private label cosmetics have had a bit of a rough go in retail. Store brand items have had to share limited shelf space with big national brands […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Take a casual stroll through any retail store--whether it be a grocery, drug or mass merchandise outlet--and you'll undoubtedly come across a display of seasonal merchandise. Usually these […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Subject to the fickle preferences --and even the fears--of parents and caregivers, products in the diapers and training pants category can succeed or fail on a whim, making […]

Fueled by the popularity of low-carb diets earlier in the decade, the meat snacks category has since enjoyed several years of dynamic growth. However, for the past two years or […]

The sandwich: arguably the greatest invention of all time. The buttered roll: what warm meal is complete without it? Dough: it does right by pizzas and apple fillings. While bread, […]

As food costs continue to rise, retailers are pulling out all the stops in an effort to attract and retain customers. One of the newest tactics implemented on grocery shelves […]

Consumers today demand a lot from their product packaging. They want packaging that ensures product safety, that is sustainable, that retains product freshness, and that conveys quality. These are some […]

Fairport, N.Y.-based LiDestri Foods received the New Jersey Food Council's Best New Product Award for its Spike's Santa Fe Black & Corn Salsa. Both manufacturers and retailers took part in […]

Food retailers from across the country are joining a cooperative government and industry effort to reach millions of consumers with important food safety information. The Be Food Safe initiative--originally launched […]

Skokie, Ill.-based Topco Associates LLC hosted members and suppliers at its Super Show held May 13 through 15 in Schaumburg, Ill. More than 850 attendees representing more than 53 member […]

Metro's private label line is called "Irresistibles," not "Irresistible," as it appears on p. 24 of our June 2008 […]

Admittedly, there's not much to smile about in grocery retail today. Energy and fuel costs are squeezing bottom lines; food and ingredient prices are soaring; and a worldwide credit crunch […]

Love it or hate it, ours is a fully functioning capitalist society in which consumers have a choice on where to spend their hard-earned dollars. And any retailer with an […]

St. Louis-based Vi-Jon Laboratories Inc. is celebrating its 1004 anniversary this year. From its humble beginnings as the Peroxide Specialty Company, Vi-Jon has transitioned over the past century to become […]

It's no secret that private label hit a bit of a rough patch several years ago, thanks to low-quality items offered in less-than-appealing packages. But over the years, manufacturers and […]

In today's high-tech marketplace, there s a lot of pressure to digitize advertising and merchandising in grocery and drug retail. For example, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, announced it is testing […]

With wellness top of mind with consumers today, many grocers across North America are moving their health and wellness programs from a simple store-within-a-store concept to a wellness platform that […]

After many conversations with retailers, manufacturers and industry consultants involved with store brands, I've come to the conclusion that I'm an atypical consumer. This is difficult to admit in my […]

My role at PL Buyer requires me to pour through A LOT of industry information regarding the grocery, drug and mass-merchandise arenas. (I have a penchant for private label, of […]

It's becoming increasingly important to consumers to know the extent to which the products they buy in stores affect the environment. Therefore, manufacturers and retailers are making the effort to […]

The article discusses the marketing background of Nash Finch Co., a wholesale grocery distributor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for 2006. It states that the company is responsible for supplying dairy products, fresh produce, frozen food and meat, as well as general merchandise and non-food goods, to nearly 1,700 grocery stores in 25 states through more than 15 distribution centers.

The article reports on the new strategy of Wal-Mart Store. The company has decided to reinvent itself to cope up with the changing retail landscape of the U.S. According to Captus business Consulting president Doron Levy, the Great Value private label does not perform unlike in the past. Wal-Mart stated that it will be opening smaller retail stores. The company will also be offering new product lines including z.b.d., a clothing line.

This article features Schenectady, New York-based Price Chopper Super Markets. The company began in 1932 as a brother-operated, one-stop shop in Green Island, New York. It will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2007. Redesigned packages will be on the company's displays by September 30, 2007, and the prominent aspect of the packaging redesign is the new logo that will be found on products like milk, potato chips, bread, apple juice and other items.

The article presents the results of a survey conducted by the magazine "PL Buyer" regarding the significance of communication between manufacturers and retailers. The respondents include the winners of the 2007 PL Buyer Category Colonel Award and the retailers who nominated and voted for the year's Category Colonel winners. Topics of the survey include product innovation, the acceptable level of face-time taking place in business relationships and the one responsible for developing more environmentally sustainable products.

The article focuses on the dairy section in the grocery retail in the U.S. The private label in the diary department is seen to have steady growth and retailers are finding ways to differentiate themselves from others by creating their own private label diary programs. It mentions that consumers are seen to have been buying more store brand dairy items and improved product offerings.

The article discusses the increasing consumption of rice and pasta due to the rise of food prices in the U.S. Consumers have come to rely on these foods for their healthfulness, abundance, variety and value. According to the Information Resources Inc. (IRI) their dollar sales are up, even substantially in some cases. In addition, the foods' appeal to consumers was perceived comes in the form of private label offerings which offers them the quality equal to national brands at a better price.

The article reports that foils, wraps and kitchen storage items have unstable performances in the U.S. market. The study conducted by the Information Resources Inc. (IRI) reveals that the private label industry has remained optimistic in the continually increasing sales of storage packs. Director of marketing for Fine Vantage Ltd. C. B. Kam reveals that customer preference for house brands causes instability in the sales of storage foils. INSET: 'Green' Where It Matters Most.

The article reviews the economic performance of household cleaners in the United States. According to the Information Resources Inc., nearly all segments of household cleaners experienced total category and private label declines in unit and dollar sales over the 52 weeks ending December 2007. A chart highlighting the household cleaner performance is also presented in which information about cleaners category, sales, percentage of change, dollar share, unit sales, and average price per unit.

The article reports on the sales performance of cough and cold products in various retail stores in the U.S. According to Information Resources Inc., the cough and cold products category experienced a decline in unit sales for the 52 weeks ending December 30, 2007. Meanwhile, the category had been affected by bad press resulting to the withdrawal of consumer support. Moreover, one of the most poignant problems in cough and cold category was the removal and reformulation of products.

The article examines how companies cope with product quality issues in exchange for higher profits in the U.S. Cited as example is the case of Nash Finch Co. According to John Paul, vice president of sales and marketing, quality is the cornerstone for the company's entire private label program. Moreover, associating safety with quality is a trend in grocery retail.

The article discusses various foot care products needed to meet the soaring demands of consumers in the U.S. Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI) reveal that from the entire stable foot category, most consumers primarily prefer the at-home foot care. Customization and innovation facilitated development in private label items. Toni Tackette of Aetna Foot Products cites that consumers' preference plays a substantial role on the growth of private foot care products.

The article reviews the economic performance of cosmetics in the United States. According to Chicago-based Information Resources Inc., private label blush and makeup remover saw higher percentage increases than the total category in dollar and unit sales over the 52 weeks ending December 2007. A chart highlighting the cosmetic industry performance is also presented in which information about cosmetic industry, sales, percentage of change, dollar share, unit sales, and average price per unit.

The article discusses the attributes and capabilities of glass and metal for packaging. It assesses that the two objects arguably are the strongest and safest packaging options available for food and non-foods. Glass consists an impervious nature that makes it difficult to tamper with the package contents. Meanwhile, metals has a reputation for being strong and secure, specifically cans because it easier to open and thus more appealing to consumers.