Price

Food prices climb higher into the double-digits, driving up inflation more than expected

13-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Rising food prices may have slowed slightly in August, but the year-over-year increase continued to rise higher into the double digits than it has in more than 40 years, according to new data from the Department of Labor.

Food prices continue to climb, prompting some shoppers to rethink grocery budgets

11-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Walmart joins others in cutting corporate jobs to offset consumer spending shifts due to inflation

04-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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.

Supply chain challenges take center stage as consumer confidence falls, spending shifts

29-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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,...

As consumer food spending slows and interest rates rise, brands, retailers must give them a reason to shop

16-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Online grocery shopping continues to grow as inflationary concerns replace COVID fears

10-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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,...

Where and what consumers buy shifts as they look to mitigate rising gas, food prices

26-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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 plans to push back on rising food prices: 'We need to do more to help customers’

17-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Rising food costs outpace those for all goods, suggesting more inflation to come

13-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Soaring prices for food at home outpace overall inflation, signaling need for strategic shift by retailers, manufacturers

11-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Sprouts Farmers Market sees consumer spending tighten as inflation, prices, continue to rise

05-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Consumer spending is still climbing, but could be at a tipping point as inflation rises

14-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Record-breaking spike in cost of goods portends inflation will go higher before it levels off

14-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Albertsons: ‘We are managing inflation very, very well,’ and ‘we’re not seeing any meaningful trade down’

13-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Ignoring price-sensitive shoppers could cost grocers even though they are only 1/3 of consumers

22-Feb-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

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...

Could Tyson Foods’ profit gains due largely to price hikes trigger additional anti-competitive allegations from White House?

08-Feb-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Tyson Foods’ strong double-digit sales and profit in the first-quarter reported yesterday could intensify the Biden Administration’s scrutiny and criticism of what he calls the meat-packing industry’s anti-competitiveness.

Rising food prices slow for now, but additional hikes by manufacturers, retailers on horizon as overall inflation surges to 7%

13-Jan-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Counter to claims (or hopes) by The White House and others that rising US prices are “transitory,” inflation continues to rise – cresting 7% for all items in December year-over-year, marking the fastest increase since 1982 and the third straight month...

USDA predicts higher food prices on top of existing hikes – calling into question consumer reactions

26-Aug-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food prices across categories are predicted to rise low- to mid-single digits this year and again next year – adding on to already higher prices in 2020 fueled in part by the pandemic and raising questions about how consumers will react in the long term,...

Albertsons warns of ‘difficult conversations’ with CPG brands if inflation-related price hikes go too high

27-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing that risings costs are squeezing food and beverage margins as the pandemic continues, Albertsons will accept – to an extent – price increases that several large CPG players have warned in recent weeks are coming down the pike.

COYO counts on price cuts to get in the door at conventional grocers, and high quality to stay there

18-Oct-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

The US team behind the coconut-based yogurt COYO hopes slashing its suggested retail price will help the brand jump from the natural to the conventional channel and that its creamy texture will keep it there by captivating mainstream shoppers who place...

'US retailers are entering a price war'

The Amazon/Aldi/Lidl effect? A 'slow and steady grinding down of prices and profitability over time,' says Bernstein

15-Oct-2017 By Elaine Watson

A 'Marlboro Friday' moment* (a huge overnight price cut) is not something most big US food manufacturers will contemplate as they seek to claw back the initiative in a rapidly evolving food retail market, say Bernstein analysts. Instead, we...

Storck makes big US push with Toffifay

09-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

August Storck has repositioned its Toffifay brand in the US to appeal to female shoppers and hopes to compete in the affordable premium space.

Coconut Beach founder: “We’re the anti-$8 coconut water”

16-Mar-2016 By Adi Menayang

The founders of Coconut Beach credit their affordable price to familial relationships with coconut growers in Thailand, and they want their product to reach the masses.

CEO: 'The center of the store is not generating the kind of performance that we would like'

New CEO at The Fresh Market to cut prices, reinvent center of store, launch loyalty scheme

24-Nov-2015 By Elaine Watson

The Fresh Market can be fixed, but it’s going to have to cut prices of key-value-items (KVIs), and “reinvent” the center of the store, says its new president and CEO Rick Anicetti, who has spent his first few weeks at the helm “looking under the hood”...

Blue Hill plans another industry first with move into drinkable savory yogurt

03-Sep-2015 By Elaine Watson

With its gourmet savory yogurts now gracing shelves at 800-900 stores in the US, Blue Hill is now looking to challenge the nation’s palate again, this time with a new range of veggie- and fruit-packed drinkable yogurts that it hopes will bring the brand...

Ongoing pricing tension between retailers, manufacturers threatens margins, IRI research reveals

01-Sep-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Many consumers are cautiously optimistic that their financial situation is improving, but they continue to buy groceries based primarily on price and value – creating friction between manufacturers and retailers, IRI research reveals.

J.M. Smucker Co.’s coffee sales turn around on strength of 5-prong plan

28-Aug-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

J.M. Smucker Co.’s aggressive efforts to wake up its sleepy coffee segment are working, resulting in a 12% increase in the segment’s sales and a 13% increase in its profits in the firm’s first quarter, executives announced Aug. 27.

NPD watch

Oreo Thins: Mondeléz taps 'light bites' trend with new SKU but is it chic enough?

08-Jul-2015 By Oliver Nieburg

Mondelēz International’s skinny cookie Oreo Thins cater to demand for lighter bites in the U.S. but analysts question the product’s billing as a sophisticated adult cookie.

Optimism high in US pork industry

10-Mar-2015 By Georgi Gyton

Total US consumer expenditure for pork has grown by 15.7% since 2009, meeting the National Pork Board’s (NPB) target of 10% growth in per capita consumption, in real terms.

JK Sucralose: We agree with Tate & Lyle, the behavior of some sucralose manufacturers is ‘suicidal’

01-Dec-2014 By Elaine Watson

JK Sucralose - which claims to be the largest sucralose manufacturer in China - has weighed into the debate over sucralose pricing raised by market leader Tate & Lyle.

Price increase drags down Smucker’s coffee sales

13-Nov-2014 By Elizabeth Crawford

J.M. Smucker Company’s notable 9% list price increase on Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts and other packaged coffees in the U.S. announced last June has finally caught up with the food maker, dragging down its second quarter sales an expected 5%.

The market price of Chinese sucralose has dropped 30-50% in 12 months

Sucralose prices 'not realistic', say suppliers: 'It is simply a matter of time before 3rd tier players exit'

18-Jul-2014 By Elaine Watson

Not so long ago, Tate & Lyle had the sucralose market to itself. In recent years, however, the Chinese have emerged as serious rivals. But while demand for the zero-calorie sweetener is rising, new capacity in China has been added even more rapidly,...

Hershey follows Nestlé with price hike

16-Jul-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Hershey has upped its global wholesale prices by 8% after responding to rising commodity costs including cocoa, dairy and nuts.

Mars launches M&Ms chocolate bar in US

05-Jun-2013

Mars Chocolate North America has introduced a new format for its M&Ms brand.

Almond and chia prices are going through the roof, says Hain Celestial

06-Feb-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Hain Celestial has posted another impressive set of quarterly figures, with rocketing sales growth for Greek Gods yogurts and Earth’s Best babyfood pouches, but warned that almond and chia prices are going through the roof.

Monk Fruit In The Raw takes on Nectresse in tabletop sweetener battle

02-Oct-2012 By Elaine WATSON

Cumberland Packing Corp is going head to head with McNeil Nutritionals’ new Nectresse tabletop sweetener with the launch of zero-calorie natural sweetener Monk Fruit In The Raw.

Food inflation will hopefully be hedged, says Maple Leaf CEO

02-Aug-2012 By Kacey Culliney

While on-going droughts across North America will undoubtedly fuel food inflation, action will be taken to manage cost spikes, Maple Leaf CEO says.

ConAgra CEO: ‘The big challenge continues to be shopper behavior'

26-Jun-2012 By Elaine Watson

Ultra-frugal shoppers are continuing to make life very challenging in the US grocery sector, although commodity inflation is finally coming down, says the chief executive of ConAgra Foods.

JM Smucker CEO: ‘Everyone has suffered…but no one is giving up on the center of the store’

11-Jun-2012 By Elaine Watson

Life remains challenging in the US packaged grocery sector, but innovative new products and more competitive prices should help JM Smucker avoid a repeat of its recent “sticker shock”, says the Jif peanut butter maker.

US chewing gum packs going pocket-sized, says analyst

14-May-2012 By Oliver Nieburg

Chewing gum packaging in the US is set to go micro as consumers look for lower priced products, according to an analyst.

Heinz: We’ll ‘hope for the best and plan for the worst’ in the US market

20-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Improving economic data notwithstanding, the US market will remain challenging for packaged food companies for some time, according to bosses at Heinz.

JM Smucker in Q3 'sticker shock': We thought volumes would decline, but not this much…

17-Feb-2012 By Elaine Watson

Bosses at Crisco oils, Jif peanut butter and Folgers coffee maker JM Smucker expected third quarter volumes to dip on the back of higher ticket prices, but they were not expecting them to fall off a cliff, chief executive Richard Smucker has admitted.