Consumer-facing technology
A growing number of retailers are using consumer-facing technology, says Packaged Facts.
"For example, 58% of overall respondents [to a March 2013 Supermarket News survey of 43 US food and beverage retailers] and 73% of larger companies offer coupons that can be printed from their websites, while 30% of the former and 40% of the latter provide coupons that can be downloaded to a loyalty card or smartphone.
"And 44% of respondents, including 60% of the larger companies, have websites that allow consumers to manipulate recipes and shopping lists."
Meanwhile, 28% of all respondents and 47% of the larger chains offer mobile apps that link to recipes, about 28% offer mobile apps that link to their loyalty programs, and 21% link mobile apps to social media and/or product information.