Food elasticities are finally ticking up as middle- and upper-income consumers whose spending so far has remained resilient in the face of rising inflation begin to feel pinched – prompting them to shift to more affordable retailers, including Walmart.
At a time when pushback against sugar is spurring large CPG players to exit the ready-to-drink smoothie and juice market by off-loading well-known brands, two best friends see an opening for a new line of produce-packed beverages positioned as having...
Notoriously thin operating margins in the food supply chain will likely keep manufacturers and retailers from incrementally lowering prices even as input costs begin to come down – preferring instead to wait until the economic landscape stabilizes and...
In another sign that inflation may be peaking, wholesale prices fell month-over-month for the first time in July since April 2020, but commodities remain significantly higher than last year, suggesting it may be well into next year before food manufacturers...
While overall inflation in the US cooled slightly in July, giving hope to some economists that financial pressures may be peaking, food prices continue to climb at their fastest rate in more than 40 years – suggesting the economic recovery still has a...
Tweaks to Sprouts Farmers Market’s marketing strategy to focus on competitive produce pricing and product differentiation along with other strategic decisions are paying off as foot traffic and sales begin to rebound after plummeting following the retailer’s...
A week after warning of falling profits due to consumers pulling back on spending to offset rising food and gas prices, Walmart is laying off hundreds of corporate staff in a move some fear signals a cooling job market and increased risk of recession.
The past two years have been a rollercoaster for many food and beverage companies, who have had to deal with everything from a global pandemic to rocketing inflation, labor shortages, and massive disruption across their supply chains. So what does all...
Unilever isn’t worried about losing market share or volume as it pushes through aggressive price hikes to offset inflation and build reserves that it can use to invest in advertising, R&D and capital expenditure for long-term gains, according to company...
As inflation pushes consumers to seek out more affordable products, retailers are seeing a surge in unit sales in certain private label categories, according to data and insights firm Catalina.
Online grocery sales totaled $7.2bn for June 2022, tracking ahead of the same month last year (+6%) and slightly above May 2022 figures (+1%), according to the latest data from Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey.
Even though PepsiCo beat Wall Street expectations in its second quarter and saw organic revenue growth soar 13%, prompting it to bump-up its full-year revenue expectations, the beverage and snack giant stopped short of also raising its earnings per share...
Inflation is impacting the average price of goods across the grocery store with price growth rates up double digits for some top-selling categories in the last 12 months ending in May 2022, according to the latest retail sales data from NielsenIQ.
Dragged down by higher-than-expected cost inflation, supply chain challenges and unanticipated, stringent COVID-related restrictions in China, McCormick missed its sales and earnings targets in its second quarter – forcing the spice maker to slash its...
As rising gas and food prices cause US consumers’ confidence and short-term outlook for the economy to plunge, some are shifting their spending habits and the blame from the pandemic to ongoing supply chain costs, constraints and related government policies,...
High milk prices are having a down stream effect on other dairy products with the price of retail butter outpacing nearly all other consumer goods, according to a dairy market analysis by CoBank.
Kroger is seeing inflation heavily impact the way consumers are shopping at its stores, with many choosing more store brands and selecting fewer premium products (eg. switching from beef to pork), says CEO Rodney McMullen.
New Census data showing consumer spending on food slowing in recent months as inflation and the threat of a recession rise suggests retailers and brands need to rethink their inventory and promotional strategies to attract and maintain shoppers, analysts...
Even as fear of contracting COVID-19 ebbs and consumers feel more comfortable visiting stores, the percentage who order groceries online regularly continues to climb as they seek convenience, and ways to manage their budgets as prices continue to rise,...
JM Smucker’s optimistic outlook for fiscal 2023 despite ongoing headwinds related to inflation, supply chain challenges, uncertainty about consumer spending and impact from its Jif peanut butter recall is notable as it is one of the first CPG companies...
While many retailers are raising prices on grocery items, German discount retailer Lidl is reducing the cost on over 100 items in all of its US-based stores for the summer months.
While supermarkets remain the go-to for most grocery shoppers, rising food and gas prices due to inflation are pushing more consumers to mass, club and dollar stores as they look for ways to rein in spending and reduce trips, according to market research...
Walmart’s already low appetite for price increases across food and beverage may be further dampening as more consumers switch to private label and smaller packs to keep expenses down – a signal to the retailer that it is not doing enough to deliver on...
With food-at-home prices in April 2022 up a staggering 10.8% vs April 2021, consumers are beginning to change their behavior. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with K. K. Davey, president of client engagement at IRI, to find out what he’s seeing in the data.
Food prices likely will remain stubbornly high as the cost of key ingredients, packaging materials, transportation and warehousing paid by producers continues to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace – sparking optimism among some that high inflation...
Rising food prices slowed slightly in April over the prior month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics April Consumer Price Index released today, but they continue to climb at a brisk pace that is significantly faster than all items, allowing them...
While many consumers report struggling with product shortages and delays in online orders along with mounting concerns over inflation, demand for groceries “tends to be relatively inelastic,” according to Morning Consult, which has just surveyed 1,000...
As labor challenges continue to hold back Tyson Foods' ability to meet heightened demand, the firm is doubling down on efforts to become the ‘most sought-after place to work,’ while simultaneously investing in automation to relieve staffing needs.
As government stimulus abates, consumer savings rates are beginning to dip below pre-pandemic levels just as food prices are rising due to inflation – driving demand for less expensive private label products and helping to boost TreeHouse Foods’ net sales...
Batting many of the same macro headwinds as the rest of the industry including continued inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ingredient and packaging shortages, Hain Celestial maintains a positive outlook on its North American business where consumer...
As higher prices due to inflation continue to squeeze consumers’ budgets, shoppers at Spouts Farmers Market are beginning to pull back on spending, opting for “slightly fewer units in the basket” – prompting the retailer to reconsider its in-store experience...
Hershey’s higher-than-expected sales and market share gains in the first quarter is a double-edged sword for the confection and snack company – allowing it to raise its full year guidance but simultaneously straining inventory and increasing the company’s...
Bracing for an “asynchronous” recovery in 2022 with “many new chapters and challenges,” The Coca-Cola Co. is prepared to quickly respond to local market conditions with a mix of price adjustments, package differentiation and “ever-sharper” promotional...
Emboldened by “sustained consumer demand” despite rising prices in the first quarter to the highest level since 2008, Nestle executives told investors yesterday that they will continue to pass on “significantly higher” than expected cost inflation to...
Despite skyrocketing inflation that reached a 40-plus year high of 8.5% for all goods year-over-year in March, and ongoing supply chain challenges that are driving up production costs and out-of-stocks, US consumers continue to spend what it takes to...
Consumer spending remains strong – for now – despite historic inflation increases, but new data from the Census Bureau released Thursday suggests the gains in grocery last month may not be as significant as they appear and an overall slowdown could be...
March’s staggering 11.2% year-over-year producer price increase revealed yesterday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests inflation, which reached a 41 year high of 8.4% last month, may be far from peaking and manufacturers, and consumers, should...
Despite soaring at home food inflation, Albertsons’ shoppers remain “strong” with minimal trading-down to less expensive products, including private label, or pulling back on overall spending, executives said during the retailer’s fourth quarter earnings...
Popchips has unveiled a new look and two new flavors - Fiery Buffalo and Fully Loaded – that it says will help the ‘popped, never fried’ brand showcase its strong taste and ‘crave-worthy’ credentials. It has also ditched some brand extensions to focus...
Fueled by ongoing supply chain constraints and skyrocketing energy costs due partly to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, inflation continues its upward march with the Consumer Price Index topping out at a staggering 8.5% for all items and 10% for food...
The high-profile pricing dispute between the pair has been resolved, but has prompted the need for a code of conduct that would implement new rules of engagement for suppliers and grocers.
In the face of ‘unprecedented’ inflation and transportation troubles, Slim Jim and Birds Eye maker Conagra Brands is raising prices – again – but executives are confident that sales, market share and household penetration will remain strong thanks to...
The US labor market continues to grow at an unprecedented clip with a near full recovery from the devastating drop early in the pandemic and with more women and retirees returning to the workforce – but a slowdown may be on the horizon even as the consumer...
JM Smucker continues to be dogged by inflation, supply chain constraints, labor and transportation challenges, prompting the maker of Jif peanut butter and Café Bustelo coffee to lower its earnings and revenue outlook for the year at the close of its...
A much-needed economic boost during the pandemic that helped reverse US agriculture’s multi-year downward financial slide likely will hold through at least 2022, although beneficial conditions likely won’t be “quite at the same level” as the past two...
The food industry, already grappling with high inflation, supply chain constraints and transportation challenges related to the pandemic, could see surging prices of key commodities, fuel and energy following what chief of the NATO alliance described...
Price sensitive consumers may be on the decline and make up only a third of all grocery shoppers, but they appear to have an outsized impact on select categories as rising inflation prompts them to rein in spending, according to new research by Symphony...
Walmart continues to rollback prices on select categories, including dry grocery, despite rising inflation and other retailers’ decisions to pass higher costs – at least in part – through to consumers.
Frustrated by market share performance in the US despite household penetration and repeat rate gains in 2021, Kraft Heinz is adopting “new game plans” that will lean heavily on renovating and repositioning of iconic brands, innovating to better meet consumer...