Week of September 4, 2023
Accelerate Your Insights is a weekly news recap of the top trends in CPG focusing on retailer headlines, key shopper behaviors, and industry events.
Click the sources links below each headline to read more
Industry News
Nestlé’s Nespresso thriving as innovation stokes demand
Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen, the brand’s CEO in North America, discusses the benefits of its DTC model, the effects of inflation and how the platform is responding to young coffee drinkers.
Drone delivery: More lift than you think
Will delivery drones become commonplace? The answer may depend on three critical factors.
Placer.ai White Paper Recap: August 2023
August’s white papers looked at the recent performance of retail giants Walmart, Target, and Costco; explored the c-store space; dove into the Manhattan office recovery; and analyzed the continued success of the off-price apparel industry.
The J. M. Smucker Co. to Acquire Hostess Brands
Rationale includes expanding iconic consumer brands, accelerating convenience strategy
PepsiCo brings hydration juggernaut Gatorade into water
The electrolyte-infused beverage, which was developed by the CPG giant to help support all-day hydration, will start hitting shelves in 2024.
Kellogg to Separate Into Two Companies
Kellogg Company’s board has formally approved the previously announced separation of the company into two independent, publicly traded companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.
Retailer News
Target adding private label grocery items as part of its fall assortment
More than 20 seasonal items will be available for purchase in early September, marking the retailer’s latest store brand product expansion as its food and beverage category sales continue to rise.
What does Giant Food’s shift say about the future of grocery delivery?
The retailer’s sudden move to abandon its regional distribution strategy suggests grocery e-commerce could be headed down a new road.
Amazon testing new minimum for free shipping for non-Prime members
Those users will have to spend at least $35 to get the perk
JUXTA Introduces Autonomous Retail Stores
JUXTA, a global technology and micro convenience retail store provider, has announced its fully autonomous and pre-assembled portable c-store model, JUXTA Nomad, to supplement EV charging stations and help traditional fueling stations transition.
C&S To Purchase 413 Stores From Kroger, Albertsons Proposed Merger
C&S Wholesale Grocers has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 413 stores, eight distribution centers and two offices that have become available in connection with the proposed merger of The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc.
Kroger Says Supermarket Sales Likely to Shrink
Kroger and Albertsons finalize divestiture plan with C&S Wholesale Grocers.
Walgreens Reportedly Paying $44M to Settle Theranos Fraud Claims
Proposed settlement will provide consumers who participated in lawsuit with “approximately double their out-of-pocket damages”
The Save Mart Companies Selects SymphonyAI Retail CPG
The Save Mart Companies, a Modesto, California-based company, has selected SymphonyAI Retail CPG as its AI solution partner for customer-centric, data-driven category management decision-making.
Dollar General braces for $95M profit hit as it clears inventory
While it works to reduce stock levels, the discounter is also investing in new planning tools to help manage flows at stores and distribution centers.
Kroger taps the brakes on automated fulfillment center rollout
The grocery chain plans to hold off on building new e-commerce sites with Ocado “until we make sure that we have a clear path on the ones we have,” Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said Friday.
Instacart eyeing $9.3B IPO valuation
But the grocery delivery company also said numbers are fluid at this point
Giant Eagle, Instacart Offer Same-Day Delivery
Giant Eagle has teamed up with Instacart to power same-day delivery in as fast as an hour from more than 200 grocery stores across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland.
Shopper News
How the Humanization of Pets Is Changing Shopper Habits
According to data from the SPINS Pet Channel, dollar growth for the pet food category rose 8.9% year over year, with cat food growing 9.3% and dog food growing 9.1% over the 52 weeks ending April 23, 2023.
Taste trumps all in plant-based consumption, study finds
Shoppers who regularly buy groceries in the category represent a lucrative segment and are also frequently repeat customers in the space, a report from FMI said.
The evolution of grocery brand loyalty
As inflation and other budget restrictions have become a major concern for consumers, food retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers have needed to focus on how brand loyalty has evolved.
Plant-Based Category Performance and Insights: Mid-Year Update 2023
Despite a slump over recent months, the global interest in plant-based products remains high online, with Australia, Ireland, and the U.S leading the search interest.