Consumers expect online product purchases to arrive in pristine condition. Retailers and E-tailers need to minimize costly returns. Shipping in corrugated boxes makes everyone happy. Corrugated packaging combines structural rigidity with wavy flutes to cushion and protect contents from damage. Perfect for stacking, cubing, and meeting the needs of omni-channel distribution to delight consumers with joyful unboxing experiences.
When it comes to protecting goods, corrugated delivers.
A Fresh Start for Fresh Thyme
The grocer celebrates its 10 th year with a renewed focus on connecting with team members and customers.
The
This year’s standout products offer innovation, value and, increasingly, functionality. 37 SPECIAL REPORT
Farms for the Future
The retailer is redefining retail innovation, one brûlée squash at a time.
There’s room for growth in the seafood category, with potential in fresh, frozen and shelf-stable varieties, and a focus on messaging.
echnology is transforming so many aspects of the grocery channel that it’s hard to keep track of every innovation. But one particular project from researchers at the University of Waterloo, in Canada, has the potential to completely upend the way that consumers shop for groceries and eat.
In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal’s Jo Craven McGinty describes how scientists at the university are developing the technology, which leverages AI to analyze food portions:
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Once shoppers have the ability to point their phones at a rotisserie chicken or a sandwich in a grocery store and get an instant nutritional report, the whole game will change.
“The researchers’ first step is to be able to assess the amount of food a diner consumes. So, rather than evaluating an entire plate of food, which you may or may not eat, they’re looking at a spoonful of food at a time and deducing the portion size. Step two will be to identify exactly what food is on that spoon. Once they’re able to do that, and they’re close to being able to do that, then they can deduce the calories in that bite of food and the nutritional content in that bite of food. … They are using wearable glasses that can record video. But primarily, they’re using a cellphone mounted on a tripod in front of a diner, so the diner doesn’t have to contribute any information. You just sit there and eat your food. The camera records exactly what you put into your mouth, each bite of food. And then that is the data set that eventually will be analyzed for nutritional content.”
We know that more and more consumers are reading labels and scrutinizing the nutritional information of everything they eat. But once shoppers have the ability to point their phones at a rotisserie chicken or a sandwich in a grocery store and get an instant nutritional report, the whole game will change. This would be terrific technology for the consumer. Labels can be hard to decipher, and knowing exactly what you’re eating at a store hot bar or restaurant is even harder. If there’s an app on your phone that counts the data and gives you a readout, consumers might think that would be worth a subscription.
The University of Waterloo researchers anticipate testing a prototype of their diet-monitoring tool within the next year, The Journal reports. Grocers with health-and-wellness apps should explore the opportunity of adding this exciting technology to their platforms before a competitor does.
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Daylight Saving Time ends. Hello, darkness, my old friend.
10
National Vanilla Cupcake Day
What’s that delicious odor wafting from the bakery department? You guessed it!
17 International Students Day. Discounts for this traditionally cashstrapped group are always appreciated.
4
National EasyBake Oven Day Remember this iconic item? You can actually make things in it!
5
Election Day. Exercise your right to vote in this year’s key elections.
Military Family Month
National Pepper Month
National Pomegranate Month
National Raisin Bread Month
1
National Roasting Month
Spinach and Squash Month
Sweet Potato Awareness Month
World Vegan Month
National Vinegar Day. This versatile condiment should always be on hand in the pantry.
6
National Advent Calendar Day. Whether it’s chocolate, wine or some other fun item, get these ready for the countdown to Christmas.
11
Veterans Day
National Education Day. Take the time to spotlight a cause that advances learning.
18
National Adoption Day. Salute those families created through this process.
12
National Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day. Heck, if you like these salted fish, add them as well.
19
National Entrepreneur’s Day. Support local food businesses in your area with prominent placement.
24
Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. Maybe it’s cooking?
Encourage customers to find out with easy introductory recipes.
25
National Brand Day. On this occasion, promote what distinguishes you from all other grocery store banners.
26
Anti-Obesity Day. Help customers win their battle of the bulge with your various programs and products.
13
National Bread Pudding Day. Allow shoppers to share online their go-to recipes for this Thanksgiving favorite.
7
National Cash Back Day. Shoppers go for these kinds of deals, so be sure to offer them.
14
World Diabetes Day. Publicize all of your offerings tailored to those living with this pervasive medical condition.
20
2
National Ohio Day. Keep the Buckeye State front and center with a sampling of its standout food and beverage products.
8
Talk Money Day. Provide financial counseling for all associates eager to balance their budgets.
15
Pack Your Mom’s Lunch Day. Kids can get ideas on what to include at your store(s).
International Hug a Runner Day. While you’re at it, make sure they’re properly hydrated and fueled on the go.
27
National Fist Bump Day. Shaking hands is less hygienic.
21
World Television Day. Know what goes with bingeing the latest shows? Snacks and beverages!
9
National Louisiana Day. Showcase the best of what the Pelican State has to offer in the way of food and drink.
16
National Button Day. Everyone should know how to sew one on in a pinch.
22
28 Thanksgiving
Flossing Day. Better dental health starts in your oral care aisle.
29
You’re Welcomegiving Day. Now’s the time to respond appropriately to all of the thanks shared on Turkey Day.
23
Thankful for My Dog Day. Enable shoppers to show their gratitude to Fido with treats from your pet care section.
30
National Computer Security Day
Make sure your systems are safe from malware, phishing and any other threats.
$38.69 for
down 3.3% compared with a year ago
$6.39 for
$3.31 for
Value Per Occasion
What is the value per occasion for general merchandise items versus the year-ago period? $14.00
$8.17 for
Source: NIQ, Total U.S. (all outlets combined) during the 52 weeks ending July 27, 2024
Source: NIQ, Total U.S. (all outlets combined) during the 52 weeks ending Aug. 3, 2024
Grocery’s Greatest Show Is Back
HUSSMANN CORP. IS HITTING THE ROAD AGAIN — THIS TIME WITH A NEW MISSION.
By Gina Acosta
y now, you may have seen the Hussmann Roadshow live on the road. It’s an experience in which the industry’s leading authority on refrigeration crisscrosses North America in a 75-foot tractor-trailer directly visiting customers — mostly retailers and service providers — and helping them get up to speed on the latest technologies and solutions in the food retailing industry.
If you haven’t seen the experience in action, Hussmann has a special treat in store this year.
The company has reimagined its Roadshow experience from a sales focus to a training emphasis to offer retailers a master class on stewardship and education called the Evolve Experience 2024. The trailer will offer a hybrid classroom/hands-on experience for education and training that features the latest CO2 and R-290 solutions from its Evolve Technologies portfolio. It also includes equipment for hands-on learning, including a protocol, an outdoor condensing unit, a monoblock and Micro Distributed technology. The experience also features the latest controllers, leak detection-connected technologies, cutting-edge sustainability solutions and next-gen tech. Each stop includes a customized agenda based on customers’ unique interests and needs.
“We have been in the industry for nearly 120 years, and we have the responsibility to help retailers become more comfortable with the ever-evolving landscape of refrigeration solutions,” says Tim
Hussmann's Evolve Experience 2024 debuted Aug. 26 in
Figge, CEO of Bridgeton, Mo.-based Hussmann Corp.
“The Evolve Experience is all about stewardship. It’s about educating the retailers and contractors on the regulations, as well as providing basic training on the solutions that are coming to the market.”
Good Stewards
Those solutions include refrigeration systems and architectures that leverage transcritical CO 2, R-290 and other emerging low-GWP options.
“Our goal is to ensure that retailers understand that there are options, no matter what they’re trying to accomplish in their store,” adds Figge. “Whether it’s a new store or an existing remodeled store — we want to be their guide. As our industry evolves, we continue to innovate. We’re here to help our customers navigate the changing landscape and together build a better future.”
Helping Retailers Evolve
According to Figge, companies visiting the Hussmann Roadshow this year can expect two sets of curricula that will focus on refrigerant comparison, solution recommendations, controller compatibility and installation guidance.
“One course is for beginners, with a high-level focus on the basics of natural refrigerants and recent regulations,” explains Figge. “The other course is more advanced, with a focus on the systems, components and technologies. It also provides a deep dive into the low-GWP refrigerant options.”
Hussmann’s Evolve Experience 2024 launched Aug. 26, in Columbus, Ohio.
“As a leader in the industry, we wanted to take this opportunity to bring the training directly to our customers,” says Figge. “Through this experience, we hope to provide both insight and comfort to retailers, emphasizing that there are solutions that will allow them to continue to deliver in their stores in a safe and successful way.”
By Diane Quagliani, MBA, RDN, LDN
Functional Foods and Beverages
JUST HOW “FUNCTIONAL” ARE THEY?
unctional foods and beverages — sometimes called nutraceuticals or superfoods — contain components that provide health benefi ts beyond basic nutrition, such as stronger immunity, better cognition, slowed aging and reduced risk for chronic diseases.
Functional foods include whole and minimally processed foods (e.g., fi ber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains); nutrient-fortifi ed and enriched foods (e.g., calcium-fortifi ed juices and B vitamin-enriched breads); and specially formulated foods (e.g., nutrition bars with added inulin, a prebiotic fi ber).
Staying healthy is the prime motivator for consumers who are interested in functional foods. Women and older people tend to be more interested in functional foods and willing to compromise on taste to receive potential health benefi ts.
Do Functional Foods and Beverages Deliver What They Claim?
In many cases, yes, although shoppers may need help to fi nd functional attributes that are backed by science versus those with less validity. FDA health claims that appear on some food labels are one way to identify valid claims.
FDA doesn’t have a legal definition for functional foods, but it does regulate them and any label claims they make, including health claims.
According to FDA, health claims describe a relationship between a food, food component or dietary supplement ingredient, and reduced risk of a disease or health-related condition. Two types of FDA-approved health claims appear on labels: authorized and qualifi ed.
Authorized health claims are supported by significant scientific agreement and with a high level of confidence in the validity of the relationship between the food and disease reduction.
An example of an authorized health claim is: “Three grams of soluble fiber from oatmeal daily in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. This cereal has 2 grams per serving.” Other examples describe the relationships between calcium and vitamin D and reduced risk for osteoporosis, saturated fat and cholesterol and reduced risk for coronary heart disease, and fiber-containing grains, fruits and vegetables and reduced risk for cancer.
Qualifi ed health claims are supported by scientifi c evidence, but they don’t meet the more rigorous signifi cant scientifi c agreement standard required for an authorized health claim. Qualifi ed health claims must include a disclaimer or other qualifying language indicating the level of scientifi c evidence supporting the claim.
An example of a qualified health claim is “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (three servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to limited scientific evidence.” Other examples describe
Retail dietitians can educate shoppers about the benefits of functional foods and beverages found throughout the aisles, and the degree of science behind them.
the relationships between nuts and reduced risk for heart disease, whole grains and reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, and green tea and reduced risk for breast or prostate cancer. (Visit fda.gov to see all approved and qualified health claims.)
Retail Dietitians Give Shoppers the Big Picture
Functional foods that qualify for a health claim don’t always include it on the label, and many — like fresh produce — don’t have labels at all.
Retail dietitians can educate shoppers about the benefi ts of functional foods and beverages found throughout the aisles, and the degree of science behind them. Most important, dietitians can help shoppers make personalized choices for including functional foods as just one part of a healthy lifestyle.
Diane Quagliani, MBA, RDN, LDN, specializes in nutrition communications for consumer and health professional audiences. She has assisted national retailers and CPGs with nutrition strategy, web content development, trade show exhibiting, and the creation and implementation of shelf tag programs.
The Next 4 Years at Ahold Delhaize USA
The global retail conglomerate sets a course for growth with a strategy designed to capitalize on its proven strengths Stateside and elsewhere.
By Bridget Goldschmidt
In May of this year, Ahold Delhaize unveiled the Growing Together strategy, which charts key growth and investment plans and ambitions toward 2028, at its 2024 Strategy Day, held at the retail conglomerate’s Zaandam, Netherlands, headquarters. Progressive Grocer was on site for the event.
“We have taken a multi-stakeholder approach to developing this new strategy, ensuring we balance the needs of our customers, the people we work with and broader societal dimensions,” explained Frans Muller, president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, at the time of the rollout. “‘Growing Together’ ensures we will stay at the forefront of innovation in healthy foods, omnichannel experiences and supply chain transformation, serving customer needs through a well-invested and future-focused foundation. I am encouraged by the numerous avenues we have across our great local brands to realize our growth potential. By focusing on the things we do exceptionally well, we are together committed to fulfill these
ambitions. By taking bigger steps, investing in our people and leveraging technologies, we are excited to unlock our purpose.”
Growing Together consists of six strategic priorities at a brand and functional level:
Thriving people: Creating a workplace where everyone is heard, valued and has purpose, to inspire growth and collaboration.
Healthy communities and planet: Helping the transition to a healthy and sustainable food system.
Vibrant customer experiences: Offering an expanded ecosystem of integrated products, services, channels and data.
Trusted product: Providing healthy, fresh, affordable and accessible items for customers.
Driving customer innovation: Building profitable complementary businesses and leveraging innovation to support future customers and spur further growth.
Portfolio and operational excellence: Using technology and data, providing savings for customers, and leveraging scale to achieve optimal operational efficiency.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the reveal of the strategy, especially in the United States, was the news that Ahold Delhaize’s Stop & Shop banner in the Northeast would shutter a number of underperforming stores as part of the chain’s
Although based in Zaandam, Netherlands, Ahold Delhaize operates various popular supermarket brands in the United States, among them Stop & Shop, The GIANT Company, Giant Food, and Food Lion.
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revitalization. In July, the company said that out of nearly 400 locations, it had identified 32 that it would close on or before Nov. 2 across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
As for its remaining stores, “Stop & Shop is focused on growing through large, multi-year price investments and a stronger customer value proposition, both in-store and online,” noted Gordon Reid, president of Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop, when the impending closures were revealed. “This means we’ll be focused on delivering lower everyday prices, as well as even more savings for our customers through strong promotions. Since 2018, we have completed more than 190 store remodels, with the customer shopping experience in mind. These stores are outperforming other Stop & Shop stores that haven’t been remodeled. We’re taking these learnings and implementing them at other stores as we build upon our strong foundation, similar to our new Boston flagship location, opened [in June] in the Allston Yards development. We look forward to continuing to serve and care for our communities and to grow Stop & Shop as a local brand for many years to come.”
Growing Together in the U.S.A.
his May Strategy Day presentation, with each brand holding the No. 1 or No. 2 position in the majority of the markets where they operate.
“As we move ahead, we will leverage the strength of our people and our brands’ rich local heritages, alongside the strength of our total scale as we grow and evolve, with the customer at the center of everything that we do,” asserted Fleeman.
Noting that the chains had become “truly omnichannel retailers,” he noted: “Each brand now has a seamless integrated shopping experience that builds trust and loyalty across all of our channels. I personally believe this is where the magic begins. This is the power of food retailing as we move forward and into the future, and our brands are more than places to shop.”
Going forward, according to Fleeman, the U.S. operations will “continue to grow and expand our business. We’ll also expand in markets where we have density, grow our relationships with existing customers and make smart investments. … We will leverage both our local connections and our scaled opportunities to expand our portfolio. While our brands lead in the majority of their markets, it’s important to note that there’s still significant room for growth. Over the next four years, we’ll increase brand strength and density. By remodeling and/or adding more than 1,000 stores, we will strengthen our value proposition by investing over $1 billion in price, while at the same time expanding digital relationships and e-commerce capabilities. We will lead, we will grow, and we will differentiate our own brands by aligning our assortment to leverage scale and to innovate to get to the core of what customers need from our brands.”
He also talked about leveraging “complimentary income streams through opportunities like retail media, and [continuing to reduce] operating costs through robust efficiency programs. These moves, along with others, will earn us the right to win with our customers and in the marketplace.”
Beyond all of the buzz generated by the Stop & Shop store closings, though, the Growing Together strategy offers a roadmap for growth across all of Ahold Delhaize’s banners, particularly in the United States, where its Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop stores comprise “the largest retail group on the East Coast,” as Ahold Delhaize USA CEO JJ Fleeman pointed out in
“As we move ahead, we will leverage the strength of our people and our brands’ rich local heritages, alongside the strength of our total scale as we grow and evolve, with the customer at the center of everything that we do.”
—JJ Fleeman, CEO, Ahold Delhaize USA
Under the Growing Together strategy, Hannaford will invest and grow through targeted remodels, new stores in high-growth areas, and expeansion on the outer edge of its footprint.
The rise of experiential grocery
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Ahold Delhaize
Brand by Brand
What do these strategy initiatives look like at the brand level? We’ve already heard about the plans to strengthen Stop & Shop, including investments in both price and the customer experience, but here’s a glimpse at what’s happening at Ahold Delhaize’s other local brands in the United States.
Salisbury, S.C.-based Food Lion, which operates more than 1,000 stores across the Southeast and is already “a powerhouse brand,” according to Fleeman, “will further accelerate growth through focused market expansion, including an enhanced omnichannel remodel program. Food Lion will build density with new stores and key markets and expand their outer-edge reach.”
“When it comes to assortment enhancements, we leverage our rich internal data along with marketplace data to reflect evolving trends in changing customer needs,” noted Food Lion President Meg Ham in a taped segment of Fleeman’s presentation. “Relevant assortment is essential to achieving our strategy. We’re especially focused on expanding our produce and whole meal solution offerings to better meet [the shopper’s] needs, and by partnering with local suppliers, we provide unique local items customers expect from their neighborhood Food Lion.”
Ham also pointed out that “our remodels create the platform to evolve the store experience and consistently generate strong return on investment. In addition to remodeling existing stores, we will accelerate new store growth and bring a differentiated shopping experience to even more communities, especially those where the population is expanding.”
“Likewise, gains in market share and strong brand reputation … give us confidence that Hannaford can invest and grow through targeted remodels, new stores in high-growth areas, and expansion on the outer edge of Hannaford’s footprint,” noted Fleeman of the Scarborough, Maine-based brand, which has 189 stores in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Meanwhile, in the Mid-Atlantic market, “The GIANT Company will grow with a focus on maintaining its leading market positions and increasing density in key markets, along with targeted remodels and price investments,” he said of the Carlisle, Pa.-based brand, which has more than 190 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and New Jersey and recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Referring to the brand’s successful Choice Rewards loyalty program, Fleeman observed: “Millions of households participate in the program, which now accounts for nearly 90% of all transactions. I think it’s pretty cool, but imagine the possibilities with this program, when you start to really connect with families and communities to save them money, but more importantly, to help them in everyday life.”
Over the next four years, The GIANT Company will strategically invest in price and explore new stores and formats in [its] region,” he added. “I look forward to seeing The GIANT Company continue to win in [its] markets.”
Also in the same region, “Giant Food will build on its strong heritage through strategic investments and price profit brands and remodels,” said Fleeman.
Owing Own Brands, and Much More
After discussing how each local brand would grow its business, he asserted, “At the center of each brand’s assortment is their own-brand offering.”
Observing that “95% of our U.S. baskets already have an own-brand item product,” Fleeman noted: “In that basket across our total store, we offer nine own-brand labels that span categories across the entire store. … Going forward, we’ll have a clear opportunity to lead across all of our own brands like we’ve done with Nature’s Promise. … In addition to continuing to expand and cultivate a compelling assortment, we will make a landmark $1 billion strategic price investment in our U.S. brands over the next four years. In an environment where customers are watching every penny, this will enable our brands to offer incredible value to their customers.”
Along with that investment, “our brands will strengthen their award-winning loyalty programs,” he said. “We will also continue to deepen relationships with customers by delivering value that is most meaningful to them, from personalized pricing to promotions. As a result, our digital customer engagement will be more than 50% by 2028, which of course will contribute to our goals of increasing omnichannel loyalty sales, and also our monthly active users. Another area that will fuel our growth is the use of technology, data and AI. … Technology and data are at the core of delivering for customers in the U.S. and around the globe. In the U.S., we’ve invested in the right set of digital capabilities already to create seamless tech-enabled experiences. We will build on this to drive further personalization, flexibility, delight and convenience that will increase customer connections underpinned by technology.”
Harkening back to his mention of expanding retail media solutions for U.S. customers, Fleeman noted that the company had taken its retail media platform in-house last year. “Since making this transition, we’ve increased retail media income by approximately 30% — a significant increase to further grow in this area,” he said. “We will create unique shoppable content across channels and leverage innovative technologies for a truly connected shopping experience.
As a result, customers will receive inspirational hyper-personalized content that makes shopping fun. That’s the power of the connection, but the beauty of our focus in this area is to provide a better customer experience so that they get more value for their money, that they have a better experience in their stores, and we continue to expand our brand’s permission sets with customers.”
Fleeman also emphasized the importance of “strong operational efficiency … to help us fund and to grow all of our business and to keep top of mind for our teams. As you know, we’ve already demonstrated our ability to generate these dollars over the past several years, but we’re even more confident that we can drive even more savings and further efficiency. First, we’ll continue to simplify and streamline our U.S. operating model to remove redundancy, to deliver the absolute best customer experience each and every day. Second, we’ll drive efficiencies in our supply chain and e-commerce fulfillment by improving operations and pivot to more storebased fulfillment. Third, we are investing in technology and AI to create greater accuracy in our operations while reducing costs. … Efficiency and effectiveness [are] key to freeing up the funds [we] need to fuel our growth in the U.S. We’re committed to unlocking savings to reinvest in our customers.”
The Power of People
Before he wrapped up his Strategy Day presentation, Fleeman made sure to speak about Ahold Delhaize USA’s commitment to its communities and its people. “Our brands are at the heart of the communities that they serve,” he affirmed. “That relationship is critically important to us and is at the core of each of our local brand strategies. Our teams make that connection every day. … We’ve donated more than 1 billion meals since 2020. We offer fresh and healthy assortments to all customers and associates, and we’re committing to sustainability ambitions across the entire value chain.”
He added: “Our people are what really makes our company. In fact, it’s one of our key parts of differentiation across all of our brands. … We remain committed to being the best place to work in food retailing and beyond among our teams.”
Fleeman closed by inviting any audience member living in one of the company’s branch geographies in the United States to “come in for a visit. I look forward to letting you see our Growing Together strategy firsthand. We’re proud of it, and we welcome the chance to have you experience it with us.”
Since the strategy officially rolled out a few months ago, things seem to be progressing well at the retail conglomerate.
“I am pleased to report a second-quarter performance that places us well on track to achieve our strategic aspirations and financial goals for 2024,” noted Ahold Delhaize President and CEO Muller in early August, when the company reported its financials for the quarter. “As I said in May, we have a strong foundation, and we are ready to set the pace for change in our industry. We believe we have a very compelling set of ambitions, which, on delivery, will yield strong growth for our company and our stakeholders.”
Each of Ahold Delhaize's U.S. brands now has a seamless integrated shopping experience that includes online shopping services such as Giant Food's Giant Delivers.
ShopLiftr empowers retailers with a robust, flexible dynamic digital advertising platform that simplifies the path to in-store sales. Our data-driven approach renders accurate, tailored, and locationspecific digital display and video ads in real time, leveraging proprietary trade promotion data.
ShopLiftr Redefines How Retailers Connect with Consumers
Today’s consumers crave customization. In fact, 87% say they appreciate relevant, personalized messages, especially when looking to save at the grocery store.
Progressive Grocer talked with John Scott, co-founder and chief executive officer of ShopLiftr, about how his company helps retailers adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape.
John Scott Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of ShopLiftr
Progressive Grocer: What does ShopLiftr do and how do you help retailers engage with their customers to spur sales conversion?
John Scott: ShopLiftr, a cutting-edge innovator in digital advertising, fuels instore sales for brands and retailers with a dynamic, data-driven platform. Our approach renders accurate, personalized, and hyperlocal display and video ads in real-time, leveraging our extensive proprietary trade data to engage and inspire consumers.
We aim to convert online visitors into in-store sales through these localized trade promotions, effectively bridging the gap between digital engagement and physical purchases. Our platform supports multilingual, geo-targeted display and video ads tailored to diverse sectors.
As a trusted partner, we are committed to making the complex simple and executing with excellence.
PG: How can ShopLiftr help retailers drive more customers in-store or online?
JS: ShopLiftr uses dynamic, personalized ad units to showcase the retailer’s brand and selected products they would like to promote, combined with a robust platform designed to serve 1,000 ad variations to customers across their chain — be that a local, regional, or national chain.
ShopLiftr simplifies the creative process by effectively automating this for the retailer, while the retailer retains full control over their creative.
We feature products, showcase the store address prominently, execute conquesting campaigns (targeting competitive shoppers), and wrap this all in a fully branded ad unit. ShopLiftr’s dynamic, programmatic display video ads deliver significant increases in in-store traffic and average basket size.
PG: Why are personalized, data-driven, and hyperlocal advertising messages more important in today’s marketplace?
JS: Today’s shopper is bombarded with advertising every day. Most of those advertising messages are ill-placed, poorly targeted, generic, or worse, irrelevant. Datadriven, personalized advertising cuts through that by zeroing in on what the shopper wants, providing extra value from advertising messages in the form of appeal and utility.
PG: How vital are deals to shoppers?
JS: Shoppers’ dollars are stretched by continuous food inflation, stagnant wages, and ever-increasing costs in all areas of their lives. They are seeking deals wherever they can find them. The nature of brand and retailer loyalty is changing as shoppers seek these deals. Loyalty is still important to retailers and brands, but deals are a way into it.
Actively promoting deals to shoppers at specific locations helps to set their shopping agenda and save them both time and money.
PG: What are some of ShopLiftr’s distinguishing attributes?
JS: ShopLiftr has developed a massive database of trade promotions for the CPG industry to promote their products when on deal, at scale, with a nationally localized approach. For retailers, we use the same database template to stand up customized databases to power localized deals, fully versioned to match their regional pricing strategies, at a regional or national level.
Fresh Thyme Market
A FRESH Start for FRESH THYME
The grocer celebrates its 10th year with a renewed focus on connecting with team members and customers.
By Gina Acosta
When the senior leadership team at Fresh Thyme Market started thinking about how to celebrate the company’s 10 th anniversary this year, the first thing they thought about was cake.
But not just any cake.
The company wanted to involve bakers in the local communities across its 10-state store footprint to create a cake that would embody what a Fresh Thyme cake should be: fresh, made from quality ingredients, better for you, and an homage to the retailer’s relentless dedication to community engagement.
In July, the Illinois-based company revealed the winner of its 10th Birthday Cake Contest: Crystal Stanley, owner of Crystal Kitchen, in Bloomington, Illinois.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our 10th birthday by recognizing the incredible talent of our local bakers like Crystal in such a meaningful way,” said Liz Zolcak, president at Fresh Thyme Market, at the time of the contest. “At Fresh Thyme, we’re passionate about inspiring a healthier future for our communities, and we were just blown away by the response and level of creativity and dedication each and every one of our semifinalists brought to this competition. It just goes to show that Fresh Thyme’s broad assortment of innovative and curated items can really spark inspiration in the kitchen, especially as more and more shoppers want options that are healthier for themselves and their families.”
Along with the recognition, Stanley will receive $5,000 and mentorship from a panel of industry experts to help grow her budding small business, plus a $5,000 donation made in her honor to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
Fresh Thyme’s cake competition is just one example of how the company is putting its newly redefined value proposition into practice. Fresh Thyme’s brand promise is to inspire healthier futures for its customers, but the retailer has further refined that value statement to shine a light on three distinct pillars that it intends to focus on as it grows the business: quality, experience and community.
Quality
Fresh Thyme, which was founded in 2014 in Downers Grove, Ill., and operates 70 stores, has been on a journey to evolve its value proposition after the pandemic years. Progressive Grocer recently met with senior leaders Zolcak; Scott Caro, group VP of merchandising and marketing; and others to understand the company’s vision for growth in the coming years.
“We’re celebrating our 10th year this year, and
as part of that, we did a lot of work recently to understand the journey that we’ve been on as a brand — how we’ve connected with our team members, our customers, how the industry’s evolved, how the pandemic impacted the industry — to really assess where are we going moving forward and how we are differentiating ourselves,” says Zolcak. “The result of that work was really our customer value proposition and what we stand for. Those are our brand pillars around quality, experience and community.”
When Zolcak talks about quality, it's about more than just having fresh or premium products —though they excel in both. It’s also about innovation.
“The team member is actually prioritized ahead of the customer very intentionally, because when we have a great team member experience, it leads to a great customer experience.”
— Liz Zolcak, President, Fresh Thyme Market
“It’s really having a curated assortment that reflects the customer and the markets we’re in,” she affirms. “Making sure that we’ve done the work for our customers to ensure that everything that we have in our store stands for quality, with clean ingredients, or really great local products with stories behind them.”
The company works with local suppliers not just to get them on the shelf — it actually mentors them as well.
“We help them deal with distributors and negotiate the supply chain and how to work with other retailers as well,” says Jonathan Lawrence, VP of center store at Fresh Thyme. “And so, we all kind of work together to launch a program and bring them along.”
Fresh Thyme’s assortments are
curated to the local community and don’t just include natural products: The customer can find a natural product right next to a conventional item on the shelf. For example, a betterfor-you box of graham crackers sits alongside its conventional-brand counterpart.
Experience
Senior leaders at Fresh Thyme take the word “experience” and blow it out to mean not just having a great customer experience, but also having a great employee experience.
“When we think about experience, it’s really about both the customer and the team member,” notes Zolcak. “The team member is actually prioritized ahead of the customer very intentionally, because when we have a great team member experience, it leads to a great customer experience. Our customers care about our team members, and they care about those relationships, and they want that experience with the team member beyond just going and finding great products.”
The company has been investing in career pathing for its 4,000 team members and building a culture of ownership.
“Investing in, developing and driving career paths with Fresh Thyme is really important to us,” says Caro, adding that the company has done a lot of work, and continues to do so, on strengthening its employee value proposition.
Community
Fresh Thyme looks at community engagement in a whole new way, beyond connecting with customers and investing in local communities.
“We want the communities where we operate to see themselves reflected in the team members of their stores,” asserts Zolcak. “We want them to see themselves reflected in the products that we serve, in the signage in the store, and how we merchandise and the assortment that we carry. And we are really excited about how the team’s kind of doubling down on how we continue to lean into these things as we move forward.”
According to Zolcak, community defines each of the
As part of its focus on the three pillars of quality, experience and community, Fresh Thyme Market has been investing in career pathing for its 4,000 team members and building a culture of ownership.
stores, and the company gives store teams the opportunity to bring the community to life in their stores.
“We plan events throughout the year and provide a skeleton or a shell for them, and then we ask the store teams to bring it to life with their own personality, their own thoughts and ideas as they build it out,” she says. “Those efforts really connect to the local community, which is really important for us.”
Zolcak tells a story about how earlier this year, she was visiting a store, and “they were having a team member engagement day, and it was, like, ‘Wear a Silly Hat Day’ or something. So one of our team members had a tin foil hat on, and they were running out on the sales floor to grab something and go to the back room.” When customers saw that, the store’s customer engagement scores skyrocketed that day.
Zolcak adds that the retailer will continue to look for different ways to engage with team members as they “really try to encourage loyalty with team members as well, so really pushing frequent discounts or free products for our team members to try, because in the space of innovation, we want them to know and be on the front end of the latest and greatest and be alive on those trends so they can educate our customers as well, and so that’s also been a really fun space to continue to leverage.”
The company also seeks out as many opportunities as possible to be out in front of the community.
“But we also have a lot of potential suppliers reach out to us as well, and then we direct them to the right category teams and talk about where we could partner and what we could do,” says Zolcak. “We also work with a lot of local suppliers, and that’s a really important part.”
Then, as she thinks about the future of Fresh Thyme, Zolcak says that she’s encouraged by the company’s results, “especially what we’re seeing laddering back to our three pillars of quality, experience and community. We’re really proud of our team members and their commitment: their commitment to passion, their commitment to helping our customers find healthy solutions. I get goosebumps when I think about the future and what we can offer to our team members and our customers, and really excited and energized about what that looks like.”
REACH FOR THE STARS
This year’s standout products offer innovation, value and, increasingly, functionality. By
Progressive Grocer Staff
Every year, Progressive Grocer receives scores of entries for its annual Editors’ Picks competition, which spotlights the most impactful consumer products of the past year. Our dedicated editorial staffers pore over each submission, evaluating each item according to such criteria as originality, value, relevance, functionality, packaging and category performance. It’s always a difficult task, but as avid supermarket shoppers and lovers of everything new and interesting in the grocery channel, we welcome the challenge.
Among the products that caught our attention as judges were Acme Lox in the Box with cream cheese, offering a convenient schmear; Deep Indian Kitchen Kati Street Wraps, enabling U.S. consumers to take Indian food on the go; Hodo Chili Crisp Dip, combining creamy texture with spicy flavor; MyBacon, reimagining the beloved breakfast staple with organic oyster mushroom mycelium; the Simply Done Variety Pack Organizer, effortlessly streamlining kitchen and pantry storage; and Whipped SO VANILLA Alc-Infused Non Dairy Whipped Cream, providing easy, boozy indulgence.
Additionally, as in years past, private brands displayed their expertise at capitalizing on consumer trends at value prices, with products from ALDI, Southeastern Grocers and Topco Associates making the cut in various categories. Meanwhile, the better-for-you bona fides of many submissions were balanced by the knowledge that consumers need — and deserve — to splurge sometimes, with various entries touting their ability to offer both nutrition and decadence by focusing on portion control and/ or healthier ingredients. What’s more, sustainability was front and center for a large number of items in such key areas as sourcing, production and packaging.
To discover all of this year’s Editors’ Picks, check out the following pages, and expect the cravings to kick in as you peruse the best of what the past 12 month have had to offer in foods, beverages and nonfoods. Also, see the interactive Editors’ Picks report on our website at www.progressivegrocer.com/editors-picks-2024.
A-Sha Meteor Noodles with Spicy Dan Dan Sauce
Suggested Retail Price: $15.99 per 4-pack
These Taiwanese-style vegan noodles from A-Sha Noodles have a healthy halo, given that they’re free of preservatives and artificial flavors and made with fiber-rich whole wheat flour, but they also have their looks going for them. Air-dried “Meteor” noodles are crafted with a patented dual blade to form a “revolving” noodle shape for a 3-D appearance and to create an effective carrier for sauces. Seasoned with sesame paste and spices, the variety packs some heat and can serve as an easy-to-prepare meal, thanks to a convenient package containing a noodle block and sauce.
Acme Lox in the Box with Cream Cheese
Suggested Retail Price: $6.99 per 3.25-ounce box
This product is billed as the only convenient snack containing cold-smoked salmon. The ready-to-eat offering includes a pouch of buttery lox, along with four crackers and a pack of Philadelphia cream cheese. The Lox in the Box collection includes other flavors as well, but this is a tried-and-true favorite that also travels well for school, work or a picnic.
Acme Smoked Fish introduced the novel line to consumers and retailers with digital and social media campaigns and giveaways in New York City. It’s already been well received by a younger consumer base, boding well for its future.
Amylu Breakfast Bites
Suggested Retail Price: $6.99 per 12-ounce package
A heat-and-eat solution for a quick morning meal or anytime snack, these bites are high in protein and free from gluten and antibiotics, with a clean ingredient label. The Country Style and White Cheddar flavors appeal to a wide range of taste preferences, and the resealable packaging with four servings makes it a convenient option for busy days and weeks. This product is Amylu Foods’ first frozen product and represents a new frontier for the company in offering convenient, nutritious options to consumers. The brand is getting that message across through in-store ads, on-shelf sales, and organic and paid social media.
Armored Fresh Oat Milk American Slices
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99 per package of 10 slices
A twist on American cheese singles, Armored Fresh’s plant-based alternative is made with oat milk yet has melty, savory attributes similar to its dairy counterpart. It’s also a nut-free alternative, following the brand’s earlier rollout of an almond milk American slice, and is free of soy, gluten, artificial flavors and preservatives. Shoppers will find this item priced similarly to dairy-made cheeses, making it accessible in more ways than one. From an R&D perspective, the product is made by fermenting oat milk with a plant-based mixed bacterial culture to produce flavor compounds replicating the distinct taste of cheese.
Barissimo Barista Vanilla Cold Foam
Suggested Retail Price: $3.69 per 13-ounce can
As its name suggests, this cold foam brings the coffeehouse experience home. Available exclusively at ALDI stores, the cold foam has a consistency similar to whipped cream but is made specifically as a flavorful topper that melts and eventually mixes into the drink. The vanilla variety adds a light sweetness to coffees, and the line also includes a Caramel Macchiato flavor. Following ALDI’s push in digital and print media, the exclusive item was an early hit and gained steam in customers’ shared social media posts; it’s now part of the grocer’s core lineup.
Retailers
CONVENIENCE STORES EMBRACE PRIVATE BRANDS
RETAILERS IN THE CHANNEL FOCUS ON QUALITY, VALUE AND DIFFERENTIATION WHEN DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS.
By Greg Sleter
Within the convenience store model, convenience remains, naturally enough, the most important element that retailers in the channel provide their customers. However, the ever-evolving retail landscape that includes more shoppers focused on the value proposition of what they buy continues to open new opportunities for growth of store-brand products.
In recent years, expanding own-brand selections within the grocery, mass merchant and dollar store channels has propelled growth across
the private label industry. Now, convenience store retailers are ramping up their product development efforts to evolve their respective assortments and add more store-brand items across many product categories.
“We’re definitely seeing continued momentum in the convenience channel this year,” affirms Chelsey Capps, director of thought leadership at Stamford, Conn.based Daymon. “While the channel is not immune to the pressures of inflation, we continue to see dollar and units in convenience outpace the total market, most notably grocery and drug.”
A growing number of retailers within the convenience channel are sharpening
7-Eleven has launched its 7-Select Fusion Energy Beverage.
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CONVENIENCE STORES
Quality and Value
Taking advantage of opportunities of currentday macroeconomic conditions is a factor driving private label growth at Irving, Texasbased 7-Eleven. According to Nikki Boyers, VP of private brands for the C-store chain, the retailer wants the 7-Eleven family of brands to be the convenience food destination of choice for consumers.
“This means placing an increased emphasis on our private brands,” notes Boyers. “More than 87% of U.S. consumers chose private label products. Our private brands provide a huge differentiator for us to deliver on customers’ quality and value needs.”
their focus on their private label offerings and investing more in product development. As with retailers in all channels, the goal is to provide quality products at a value, with differentiation an added key to success.
“What’s interesting in the current marketplace is that quick-serve restaurants continue to raise their prices,” says Capps. “Consumers are looking for alternative solutions that deliver a better overall value. For C-stores, this is an opportunity for them to execute their own programs and deliver with ownable product offerings.”
There is definitely a trend more toward value shopping, and we are doing a lot of promotional activity through our loyalty program. People are shopping much smarter, given the disposable income that’s in their pockets.
— Kevin Smartt, TXB
For its 7-Select own brand, Boyers says that the retailer’s goal is to provide shoppers with high-quality, differentiated products at a value. Popular categories include water, sports drinks, juices, teas and snacks.
Officials at TXB are also focused on value as the Spicewood, Texas-based convenience store chain works to expand its private label assortment. Over the past year, the retailer has grown its offerings with the addition of a hydration line, new flavors to its Nitro coffee assortment and the launch of a new peanut line.
“There is definitely a trend more toward value shopping, and we are doing a lot of promotional activity through our loyalty program,” asserts Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB. “People are shopping much smarter, given the disposable income that’s in their pockets.”
With the focus on value, Smartt adds that TXB has seen a growing demand for multipacks, particularly in beverages, and a significant uptick in products that the convenience store chain positions as high-value offerings.
“The good news for us is that we have offerings for both,” he says. “We remain focused on providing quality products and also a commitment to a positive shopping experience that has allowed us to continue seeing positive traffic.”
TXB’s private label offerings include coffee mugs and coolers that feature the convenience store’s brand.
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CONVENIENCE STORES
The Evolving Shopper
Meanwhile, Capps points out that the ever-changing behavior of shoppers, which seems to evolve at a more rapid pace than in prior years, offers convenience stores opportunities to develop unique products and further build out their private brands.
“We know the value equation is changing, but as it changes, we see retailers continuing to keep their foot on the gas pedal as it relates to bold flavor development, convenient pack sizes and finding ways to expand a portfolio offering beyond just the basics,” she says. “Retailers that are investing in private brands are also investing to keep shoppers satisfied with better overall value, and meeting shifting shopper needs that live up to the quality expectations shoppers have come to know and expect.”
At 7-Eleven, Boyers notes that the focus is on providing private-brand products that are higher in quality than national brands, at a better retail price for shoppers. With the retailer offering more than 900 store-brand items across 50 categories, the convenience store chain’s product developers source quality ingredients to create differentiated products for its assortments.
“We partner with manufacturers to produce these new and innovative items that are the first to market, the best in the market and/ or exclusive to 7-Eleven stores,” she adds.
An example of 7-Eleven’s efforts to develop unique, quality items that Boyers cites is the convenience store chain’s collaboration with Miracle Seltzer on the launch of a sparklingwater line sold under the 7-Select brand.
The assortment, which features such flavors as lemon-lime, green apple and sweet orange, was also used by 7-Eleven in an April Fools marketing campaign that included its Big Bite Hot Dog. The prank included hot dog-flavored sparkling water. This hoax served to generate awareness of the quality and innovation of the 7-Select line, according to Boyers.
At TXB, Smartt notes that the growing trust and confidence that shoppers have in private label products has given the convenience store chain more freedom to be adventurous when developing new products.
“From the beginning, we’ve taken the viewpoint that we want to create quality products for our private-brand assortment, and we want that to be the perception in the consumer’s mind,” he says. “When developing products, we’re always looking for uniqueness in terms of flavor, package size, etc. It’s all about creating a quality brand that offers some differentiation.”
Our private brands provide a huge differentiator for us to deliver on customers’ quality and value needs.
—Nikki Boyers, 7-Eleven
Part of the strategy to set itself apart from other retailers is TXB’s non-consumable private-brand product line. This includes such items as apparel and hard- and soft-sided coolers, among other products.
Putting Products to the Test
“We’re pretty active in seeking out new products and going through the process of testing and vetting of potential product suppliers,” says Smartt. “We not only want to get the product right, but make sure other issues, such as packaging designs and logistics, are all in place.”
The momentum enjoyed by private-brand product growth seen in recent years through the convenience store channel is expected to continue. For example, 7-Eleven’s Boyers notes that the retailer is placing an increased focus on proprietary beverages and fresh food, along with private brands.
“We plan to introduce more than 200 new private-brand items across the portfolio this year,” she says. “We will also enter new categories, including energy, frozen food, sparkling wine and prosecco, and rapid hydration.”
7-Eleven recently debuted its 7-Select Rehydrate beverage in a variety of flavors.
SNACK ATTACK
CONSUMERS ARE SEEKING PRIVATE LABEL SWEET AND SALTY ALTERNATIVES TO OFFSET RISING NATIONAL-BRAND PRICES.
By Greg Sleter
To give shoppers lower-priced, quality alternatives, several retailers throughout 2024 have worked to expand their snack food assortments largely in response to continued price increases from national brands.
While experts say that consumers are conscious of price when looking for their favorite snacks, many are not just seeking out an item that carries the lowest price. While value is key for many shoppers, many are also open to trying new items and new flavor profiles as long as doing so doesn’t empty their wallets.
With this in mind, a growing number of retailers, from grocers to mass merchants and convenience stores, have expanded their ownbrand assortments of salty and sweet snacks.
To get greater insight into the current state of the snack food marketplace, Store Brands spoke with Melissa Myres, insights director with Cincinnati-based 84.51˚, the data science arm of The Kroger Co., and Sally Lyons Wyatt, global EVP and chief advisor with Chicago-based consumer insights firm Circana.
STORE BRANDS: What trends are driving the snack food business?
MELISSA MYRES: In recent consumer research, we’re seeing some trends. The biggest is 66% of shoppers saying they are extremely concerned over inflation, the highest level we’ve seen since March of 2023. With that, 64% of shoppers have said they are looking for deals, sales and coupons more often, as they are very concerned with value. Consumers still have their snacking occasions, but they are switching to lower-cost brands more often to satisfy their needs. They’re willing to trade down or into other options when it comes to snacking.
SALLY LYONS WYATT: Nostalgic flavors is a trend that I think is very interesting. It started in 2023, and I wasn’t sure it would continue, but it has. We’ve seen a lot of freeze-dried snacks, along with several products that include caffeine. We’ve also continued to see an uptick in products focused on well-being. And when we look
Grocers such as ALDI continue to expand their assortments of private label snacks to give consumers more options at a better value than national brands.
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SNACKS
at the consumer overall, they are trying to find the right balance between indulgence and better-for-you options.
SB: Under the large umbrella of snacking, are there certain products that are seeing the most interest from consumers?
MM: Looking at the past six months, there has been noteworthy growth in meat snacks, especially in private label. We have also seen growth in trail mix and with potato chips.
SLW: Candy continues to be a popular snack, whether chocolate or non-chocolate. Also popular are potato chips, cookies and crackers, and then yogurt. There is also diversity in snacking and with what consumers see as snacks. Products such as tortilla chips, frozen novelties, dried meat, frozen appetizers and snack rolls are also popular. You’ve got products that are either shelf-stable, sweet or frozen. That’s a very diverse group.
SB: What impact is pricing having on the buying decisions of consumers?
MM: People are noticing the price increases, and snacks and candy are among the categories where the higher prices are most noticeable. As a result, 43% of consumers are willing to switch to lower-cost brands within these categories. People still have their snacking occasions, whether they are working from home or watching a sporting event. With price the No. 1 thing they’re thinking about when shopping, consumers are also looking for options that differ from what they have been buying and are also looking for products offering a better value.
SLW: When looking at the price piece of this, we are still, on average, roughly 30% higher than 2019 within food and beverage, and the story is much the same with snacking. But when you look at the end of 2023 into the beginning of 2024, the price increases of what we were seeing at the end of 2022 into 2023 are nowhere near the same. So we have slowed the price increase, month over month. There is also a variety of pricing when it comes to snacks, because of the variety of pack sizes offered. Some consumers will buy bigger pack sizes or multipacks to save money long-term,
The slowdown we’ve seen in coffee has had an impact on snacks. With people cutting back on their midday caffeine fix, consumers are looking for snacks that offer another source of energy during the day.
—Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana
while others are looking for single-serve sizes. Snacking does a nice job of giving consumers a variety of prices to meet their needs.
SB: What role is health or healthy snacks having in the segment?
MM: Most shoppers are claiming they care about their health when it comes to snacking. However, on the flip side, our research shows that 28% of shoppers claim they don’t look at the ingredients list when they’re buying snacks. We also have 75% of shoppers who tell us that taste and flavor are the most important factors when they choose a snack, and only 29% say they are looking for some benefit such as high protein or low sugar. While taste still reigns supreme, it will be interesting to see how and if that number fluctuates over time.
SLW: The slowdown we’ve seen in coffee has had an impact on snacks. With people cutting back on their midday caffeine fix, consumers are looking for snacks that offer another source of energy during the day. Products with protein also play into this need for energy. So I’m not sure consumers are looking toward these products because they are healthier options; rather, they are turning to these products based on a need.
People are noticing the price increases, and snacks and candy are among the categories where the higher prices are most noticeable. As a result, 43% of consumers are willing to switch to lower-cost brands within these categories.
—Melissa Myres, 84.51˚
SB: Is there any notable di erence demographically when it comes to the type of snacks consumers are buying?
MM: Our research does not indicate any major difference among the age groups when it comes to buying snacks. The one place there is some difference is within snacking occasions. Three-quarters of consumers aged 35 to 54 say they’re snacking multiple times a day. Only 56% of consumers 18 to 34 are snacking multiple times a day.
SLW: When it comes to the generational aspect of snacking, it’s not just the fact that consumers are snacking, but it’s the differences between each of the generations. It’s important to cater to each of the age groups with a personalized message. The type of product that may be interesting to someone in Gen X may not be of interest to someone in Gen Z. Being able to personalize or customize messaging by cohort group, whatever that group is, is one thing that retailers and manufacturers need to do their best to embrace. That will help overall traffic penetration and sales.
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MADE IN THE U.S.A.
HOMEGROWN PROSPECTS
By Greg Sleter
PCONTINUED PRIVATE LABEL GROWTH IS OPENING UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S.-BASED MANUFACTURERS.
rivate label products continue to grow, and as retailers expand their assortments, perhaps their greatest challenge is expanding their roster of reliable suppliers that can provide high-value, quality products made close to home.
While the pandemic has faded into the background, the worldwide health crisis did shine a light on the fragility of the global supply chain and led many retailers to rethink their product sourcing efforts. Working with product vendors overseas was a no-brainer for decades, as the focus was mainly on price.
product vendors overseas was a no-brainer for decades, and assurance,
Today, the conversation is broader, and while price is still important, quality assurance, availability and speed to market are also regularly discussed. This broader discussion has opened new doors for U.S.-based companies that have maintained domestic manufacturing efforts.
Store Brands spoke with two private label suppliers,
A U.S.-Made State of Mind
Store Brands spoke with two private label suppliers, Samantha Burd, of New York-based beauty supplier Lady Burd, and Bayard Winthrop, founder and CEO of San Francisco-based apparel supplier American Giant. Burd and Winthrop each shared their insights on the current state of manufacturing products in the United States.
this year,
More than a half-century of history working with retailers to develop private label assortments of cosmetics, skin care and personal care is the foundation of Lady Burd.
Started by Roberta Burd, the company is currently run by coowner Samantha Burd, Roberta’s granddaughter. Since day one, Lady Burd has been focused on the private label segment and continues to manufacture products from its headquarters in the Long Island community of Farmingdale.
While many products in the beauty segment are made overseas, U.S.-based suppliers such as Lady Burd continue to see strong demand from retailers looking to work with manufacturers that are closer to home.
“Prior to COVID, there were retailers that wanted products made in America, but they weren’t willing to pay the premium,” notes Burd. “Now I’m definitely seeing less resistance to the premium for products made in the U.S. It also allows them to market the fact that a product is made in the U.S., specifically New York.”
While prices of domestically produced products have historically been higher than items made in China and other Asian countries, a fact that remains the same across most product categories within
the beauty segment, other factors, such as lead times and product ingredients, are now front and center in conversations with Lady Burd’s customers.
ingredients, are now front and center in conversations with Lady
Questions about ingredients are “a bigger factor,” says Burd. “More than ever, we’re getting requests for custom formulations. There is also more focus on regulatory concerns and quality assurance. One of the big selling points of our business is that we have in-house regulatory [compliance] and in-house quality assurance. People today care about this.”
Another big selling point is Lady Burd’s geography: Since Farmingdale is located about an hour east of Manhattan, clients are comfortable knowing they can visit the company’s headquarters and meet with chemists who are formulating the products, according to Burd.
“Having that one-on-one conversation makes [the client] feel safe and guarantees the product they are going to get meets various standards, whether they want the product to be clean,
Early
American Giant placed American-made T-shirts in 1,700 Walmart stores.
As
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
paraben-free or vegan,” she says. “This is more difficult to do when dealing with companies overseas.”
Additionally, as more retailers expand their private-brand beauty assortments, a growing number are looking to move beyond offering name-brand-equivalent products and are more interested in providing their shoppers with unique items.
Burd notes that her company has had more opportunities come its way because of its ability to develop products and get them quickly to market. This is key in large part because of the continual turnover of products in retail private label assortments.
“In the past, we would see new products launch every six months, and then those products would be in the line forever,” she says. “Now there are very few products that live on indefinitely in cosmetics or skin care lines. There are maybe two or three hero items, but everything else just cycles through.”
She also notes that the growing movement toward shortinventory runs is proving beneficial for Lady Burd. Pointing to the increased popularity of “new product drops,” Burd observes that some retailers are looking to create buzz about products by launching them at midnight, with limited quantity inventories.
Bringing Apparel Manufacturing Back
When Winthrop founded American Giant 13 years ago, his motivation was simple: He wanted to manufacture high-quality apparel domestically while also helping bring back jobs from overseas.
“There was a point that I wanted to push back against products being made overseas, and we have to start somewhere,” recounts Winthrop. “American Giant came out of that basic idea, and this is an issue that I feel very passionate about.”
Among the notable product placements for the company was a line of T-shirts that rolled out at 1,700 Walmart locations this past summer. The American-made apparel carried a retail price of $12.98 and was made from 100% American cotton grown throughout the southeastern United States. The shirts were manufactured in production facilities located across the country, and the assortment included shirts in red, white, blue and heather gray, with the words “American Made” on the front.
Ramping up the production of apparel made in the United States has its challenges, given that much of the clothing sold at U.S. retailers is made in Asia and other regions around the world.
For American Giant, labor was one challenge, since, as Winthrop notes, “there is not a well-trained workforce that is clawing at [our] gates to come in.” The other challenge was developing a smoothly running supply chain that included working with consistent sources of raw materials.
Somewhat surprisingly, one aspect that wasn’t challenging was finding available facilities for his new business.
“If you drive through the Carolinas and many other parts of the country, it’s very hard not to be struck by the devastation that has happened in the textiles industry,” says Winthrop. “If you go into any small town that is not doing well, you’ll see mill after mill that is closed.”
Prior to COVID, there were retailers that wanted products made in America, but they weren’t willing to pay the premium. Now I’m definitely seeing less resistance to the premium for products made in the U.S.
— Samantha Burd, Lady Burd
Key to American Giant’s success has been the ongoing commitment from Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart, which Winthrop notes is having a profound impact on his business and could also serve to influence other retailers. However, persuading apparel retailers such as The Gap, Old Navy and others to walk away from seasonal clothing made outside the United States and priced at $5 or less is a challenge.
“Walmart is leading with good values, and not worrying about how the stock price is going to react,” he says. “I would like to think that The Gap was bothered by the fact they’re selling July 4th T-shirts for patriotic reasons, but those shirts are made in Africa. I would like to think they would change that and try to do something better.”
While Winthrop and American Giant are part of the Made In America story today, he believes that more needs to be done to expand manufacturing in the United States as part of an effort to provide quality jobs for people across the country.
“Not everyone is going to be a Google engineer,” he says. “We need solutions to provide dignified work for people who have high school degrees. Whether it’s inner-city Baltimore or rural South Carolina, we need out policymakers thinking about how Americans can make their lives better.”
Lady Burd offers a host of cosmetic and beauty products for sale under retail private brands.
Basket & Bushel Hatch Chile Peppers
Suggested Retail Price Range: $6.99$7.99 per 32-ounce bag
Hatch chiles have a definite and often passionate following, and this product offers extra appeal because it’s sold in a resealable cellophane pouch versus the traditional bulk format. In its first year and under a private label brand, it flew off shelves as shoppers clamored for the spicy taste and enticing price point; the item helped lift the overall Basket & Bushel portfolio performance. Topco Associates LLC kicked off the launch with in-store and digital marketing tools and touted the strong cross-promotional opportunities, while suggested recipes and online usage tips expanded on already impressive initial shopper interest.
Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Bone Broth
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per 24-fluid-ounce jar
It’s clear: Shoppers are seeking protein-rich, clean-label broths. Bell & Evans delivered with this pick made using only slow-simmered chicken bones and water. It’s also unique in that it’s a fresh product and merchandised in a shatterproof and leak-proof jar in the meat case alongside Bell & Evans chicken. The broth packs a powerful nutrient punch, with 19 grams of protein and 10 grams of collagen per serving, but no added salt or preservatives. Retailers were supported by an omnichannel launch campaign that included in-store messaging, demos, digital and print coupons, social media posts, and sponsored search, among other tactics.
Best Choice Superior Selections Salad Dressing
Suggested Retail Price: $3.49 per 12-fluid-ounce bottle
As they seek to get more out of their food dollar, consumers are flocking to private label products, including salad dressings. This premium line from Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) is made with high-quality oils and elevated flavors and sold in a glass bottle with eye-catching photography. Now available in six flavors – two varieties were added after the initial rollout – the dressings give consumers a chance to trade from the national-brand equivalent and give retailers extra margin. AWG supported the launch with ads, planograms and end cap plans, along with a 90-day introductory deal.
BioGreenChoice Home
Compostable PHA Cutlery
Suggested Retail Price: $3.99 per 24-count box
Talk about cutting waste – this compostable cutlery is made with marine materials, including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), to optimize degradability. Developed by TrueChoicePack, the cutlery holds up well and offers a better sustainable profi le than current industry-standard solutions like PLA. Grocers can add the product as a choice for consumers looking for alternatives to plastic utensils. On the market for less than a year, the product met market demands while spurring a shift to eco-friendlier options in the category. Its success also demonstrated that private label brands can lead innovations and drive the push to sustainability.
Brazi Bites Gluten-Free Waffles
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 6-count box
Making its debut in Sprouts Farmers Market stores last year, this line of better-for-you gluten-free waffl es from a Latina-founded brand is available in traditional Homestyle and Blueberry fl avors, as well as a distinctive Cheesy waffl e fl avor inspired by Brazilian cheese bread. That variety is a fi rst-of-its kind savory waffl e that garnered early attention on social media, leading to more than 210,000 views and 750,000 impressions on Instagram. Frozen heat-and-eat Brazi Bites waffl es contain 5 to 9 grams of protein each and can be enjoyed as a breakfast, snack or even dinner. Since the launch, Whole Foods Market has introduced the line.
BrightFarms Mediterranean and Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kits
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99 per approximately 7-ounce kit
Global and regional flavors differentiate these salad kits from indoor-farming company BrightFarms. The Mediterranean kit includes greens grown in a hydroponic farm, ready to be tossed with feta cheese, roasted lentils, herbed flatbread, herbaceous Greek flavors and a tangy feta vinaigrette, while the Southwest Chipotle Crunch variety changes it up with leafy greens, fire-roasted corn, cotija cheese, tortilla strips and chipotle ranch dressing. These kits are designed for convenience: Users simply combine ingredients, reseal the removable lid over the recycled plastic container, shake and enjoy. Bonus: The greens arrive at local grocery stores as quickly as 24 hours after harvest.
Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore, Low-Sodium
Suggested Retail Price: $2.29 per 5-ounce can Tinned seafood is having a moment, and so is the low-sodium movement. This product combines both, with tuna containing 56% less sodium than the brand’s regular albacore in a convenient, familiar format. Each can supplies 29 grams of protein and 300 milligrams of EPA and DHA omega-3s. According to Bumble Bee Seafoods, the product was the most successful item launched in the entire shelf-stable seafood category in 2023, and was followed by two more low-sodium albacore items introduced in July 2024. Additionally, the can stands out on shelf, thanks to its lighthouse symbol representing category guidance.
BuzzBallz Chillers BIGGIES
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 per 1.5-liter bottle Go big and go home. That’s the takeaway from BuzzBallz Chillers BIGGIES, which come in the same signature spherical shape – made from non-breakable plastic material – as regular BuzzBallz adult beverages, but in a shareable size. Available in StrawberryRita, LimeRita and ChocoChiller varieties, the drinks are derived from natural flavors and contain 15% alcohol by volume, similar to bar-crafted cocktails. The BIGGIES line is a hit, according to woman-owned BuzzBallz LLC, which recently added more production capabilities for the item and intends to launch more flavors and marketing initiatives to support the line.
Chocxo Dark Chocolate Lemon Crème Cups
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 3.45-ounce package
Proving that dark chocolate does, in fact, marry well with lemon flavor, this product is a standout for its uniqueness, taste and reduced-sugar profile. It’s made from organic chocolate that’s lower in sugar, without any artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, enrobing a lemon-infused organic white chocolate center. The candy contains only 4 grams of sugar per cup and is Certified Organic, Certified Gluten-Free and kosher.
Promoting the treat for spring, Chocxo Chocolatier supported the introduction with an integrated marketing campaign, in-store displays and demos. The item will return as a limited-edition offering in spring 2025.
Chomps Sea Salt and Jalapeño Chomplings
Suggested Retail Price: $28 per 24-pack of 0.5-ounce sticks
Chomps upped the meat snack ante with this product, featuring a fun name, unique flavors and a format that appeals to the growing audience of protein-seeking shoppers. The Jalapeño version of the 100% grass-fed beef snack is made with real jalapeño peppers, while the Sea Salt variety has a hint of garlic, too, for a simple, savory taste. These mini meat sticks have zero sugar and don’t contain soy, dairy, artificial preservatives or colors, MSG, or artificial nitrates or nitrites. Chomps expanded distribution of the products, which are touted as a convenient, nutrient-packed on-the-go snacking solution.
Chosen Foods Dip & Drizzle Sauces
Suggested Retail Price Range: $5.98-$7.99 per 9-fluid-ounce bottle
As the product name suggests, these sauces bring fun and flavor to the eating experience. Chosen Foods sought to shake up the condiment category with health-forward products that are made with “good fats” from avocado oil and come in Everything Bagel Sauce, Chicken Sauce and Burger Sauce varieties. That avocado oil base is a differentiator, as the manufacturer tests every batch and traces its supply to ensure that it meets high quality standards. First introduced at 1,000-plus Walmart stores, the line has expanded to Sprouts Farmers Market stores and is generating buzz on social media platforms.
Clover Valley Lobster Bites
Suggested Retail Price: $6 per 12-ounce package
This pick has the triple cachets of a bite-sized format, permissibly indulgent flavor and affordability. Part of Dollar General’s private label Clover Valley portfolio, the product is made with real lobster meat and imitation crab meat rolled in panko and seasoning. As an appetizer, snack or part of dinner, the item is available in a resealable bag and can be prepared in the oven, deep fryer or air fryer. On a broader level, the product exemplifies the company’s Food First initiative including more refrigerated and frozen items. It won a PLMA award in the appetizers category in 2023.
Cornish Sea Salt Smoky Flakes
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 1.8-ounce container
Artisanal salts are trending lately, and this one is right up there as an interesting new option with a flamegrilled flavor. The product is billed as rich in minerals, including potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium, and has a compelling backstory of production in a smokehouse along a shoreline. From a flavor POV, the flakes have a soft, melting texture that imparts a salty and smoky taste. The product was a hit at recent trade shows, and the teams at World Finer Foods and Cornish Sea Salt are hosting masterclass training sessions on these salts for brokers and sales teams.
Crav’n Flavor Mini Ice Cream Cones
Suggested Retail Price Range: $5.29-$5.99 per 22.5-fluid-ounce 10-count box
Catering to a consumer desire for small indulgences, with 31% of shoppers saying that smaller portions motivate their purchases, Topco Associates’ Crav’n Flavor Mini Ice Cream Cones consist of real ice cream in a sugar cone and topped with chocolate-flavored coating and peanuts. The product is supported by a combination of Crav’n Flavor in-store, in-aisle and online marketing tools, and is offered in dual-panel paperboard boxes for easy display and easy recyclability.
Daily’s Steak Cut Bacon
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 16-ounce package
This Steak Cut Bacon represents Daily’s thickest cut ever and is representative of the fact that thick cuts are still outperforming standard cuts in the bacon category. The bacon is made with fresh, never-frozen pork bellies as part of Daily’s commitment to using the highest-quality ingredients, and is cured with premium sugar cure and smoked with natural hardwood. Daily’s is focused on growing at retail and has launched a strategic digital and print Bacon Comes First campaign promoting the product.
Deep Indian Kitchen Kati Street Wraps
Suggested Retail Price: $4.39 per 5-ounce wrap
Deep Indian Kitchen’s Kati Street Wraps are designed to deliver an authentic Indian taste and texture experience, and each wrap comes with a microwave crisping sleeve that also functions as a convenient holder for easy on-the-go consumption. The wraps feature paratha (Indian bread) that is fi lled with the brand’s leading entrée fl avors, including Chicken Tikka Masala. The fi llings are cooked in small batches and slowly simmered in sauces for several hours to create rich fl avors. Additionally, Kati Street Wraps are ready in minutes and pack up to 19 grams of protein per serving.
Del Real Foods Birria & Cheese Mini Pupusas
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 16.8-ounce 6-count package at Target Pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish, are made with stone-ground corn masa and contain a variety of fillings. Del Real Foods’ Birria & Cheese Mini Pupusas are crafted with beef birria and mozzarella cheese, and are ready to heat and serve in as little as three minutes. The pupusas are refrigerated and made with fresh premium ingredients and nothing artificial, and are hot packed, a process that helps lock in flavor and preserve freshness. Del Real Foods plans to further lean into the popularity of pupusas by introducing new flavors and fillings, including a vegetarian/vegan offering and a breakfast line.
COLDEST-EST IN THE GAME.
Doughlicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Gelato
Bites
Suggested Retail Price: $6.99 per 6.77-ounce package
Women-owned Doughlicious is redefining the cookie dough experience with its latest frozen snack. Doughlicious cookie dough unites with creamy gelato, and is then dusted in cookie crumbs. The hand-crafted Gluten Free Certified snacks are made in London in a factory powered by renewable electricity, and the company is also focused on better-for-you ingredients and sustainable practices. Doughlicious is collaborating closely with the Whole Foods Market merchandising team to facilitate hands-on interactions with the product.
Evergreen Frozen Mini Waffles
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 9-ounce bag
Evergreen’s reformulated mini waffl es are the only ones on the market that are packed with
one whole serving of fruits and vegetables, 3 to 5 grams of fi ber to support gut health, and 4 to 6 grams of protein for sustenance. The company uses no refi ned sugars, seed oils, or artifi cial fl avorings or preservatives, and the reformulation prioritizes amped-up fl avor and a lighter texture while staying within its nutritional guardrails and offering a truly betterfor-you option to consumers. Dessert-forward fl avors include Zucchini Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Banana Bread, Apple Cinnamon Cobbler, Chocolate Zucchini Bread and Mixed Berry Cobbler.
Filippo Berio Truffle Pesto
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 6.7-ounce jar
Filippo Berio’s Truffl e Pesto is produced in Liguria, Italy – the original home of pesto – a fact that adds to the authenticity of the product. The pesto brings the rich fl avor of black summer truffl es to a variety of recipes at an affordable price, and requires no heating or cooking. The innovative product was driven by a keen observation of market trends and consumer insights gleaned from Filippo Berio’s custom research on the pesto category and access to innovation pipelines, and underscores the brand’s commitment to continuous innovation, sustainability and high-quality products that align with evolving consumer fl avor preferences.
Food Club Southwest Ranch Beans
Suggested Retail Price Range: $1.19-$1.49 per 15-ounce can
Ranch-style beans represent a $30 million opportunity that has been growing 1.9% year over year. Food Club Southwest Ranch Beans fi ll a private label gap and help draw shopper attention with differentiated packaging that makes them stand out on a crowded canned-bean shelf, while also offering a practical, right-priced solution for spicing up meals or snacks. Further, the product is canned with a paper label for simple storage and convenient recycling.
Fresh Express Smokehouse Chopped Salad Kit
Suggested Retail Price: $4.49 per 10.5-ounce kit
In a bid to bring popular American flavors to the masses, the Fresh Express Smokehouse Chopped Salad Kit features crunchy barbecue croutons; shredded smoked gouda; a blend of iceberg and green leaf lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots; and a smoked bacon dressing. The salad is packaged in the company’s patented Keep-Crisp breathable bag, which leverages advancements in modified-atmosphere technology and employs a unique permeable plastic film that regulates the oxygen content within the bag to control the salad’s natural “breathing rate,” thus maintaining freshness, quality and product integrity.
Fresh Press Farms Peach
Cider Vinegar
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 32.8-ounce bottle
Standing out for its innovative approach to traditional apple cider vinegar, Fresh Press Farms Peach Cider Vinegar is made from 100% real peaches at peak ripeness. It offers an alternative to the harsh and overly acidic taste of traditional apple cider vinegar while being USDA Organic sourced and containing zero sugar. The company is taking an “always on” omnichannel approach to driving trial and awareness through digital coupons, in-store promotions and a robust store-level sampling initiative.
Frieda’s Passion Fruit Three-Pack
Suggested Retail Price Range: $4.99$5.99 per 3-pack
Produce is having a moment, and Frieda’s Passion Fruit Three-Pack is taking the popular, albeit little-known, fruit to new levels. With many consumers unfamiliar with the appearance of fresh passion fruit, the company’s unique packaging, which is the first of its kind in the U.S. market and includes QR codes, aims to educate consumers about the fruit and provide suggested ways to enjoy it beyond typical consumer packaged goods products. The 3-pack format caters to modern lifestyles in terms of convenience, offering portion control and ease of use.
Full Circle Market Potato Gnocchi
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99 per 17.6-ounce package
A product of Italy, Full Circle Market Potato Gnocchi is made with corn and rice flour, as well as being organic and gluten-free. Unique to the market, the shelf-stable option is supported by a combination of Full Circle Market in-store and online marketing tools supplied by Topco Associates LLC.
Galbani Marinated Fresh Mozzarella
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 12-ounce tub
Galbani’s marinated fresh mozzarella can be enjoyed as a stand-alone snack or incorporated into salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches or appetizers. Additionally, the product can be used on chicken or fish, or as a dip with bread. The item is gluten-free, kosher and made in the United States. The introduction of the company’s two unique new flavors, Spicy Pepper and Garlic, Onion & Chives, has generated excitement among consumers and drawn more attention to the overall fresh mozzarella category.
Genio Della Pizza
Hodo Chili Crisp Dip
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 8-ounce tub
Described as a “savory, spicy, serious umami bomb,” Hodo Chili Crisp Dip boasts the unusual main ingredient of creamy, whole USDA Organic soybeans, along with such bold aromatics as shallots, Sichuan peppercorns and shiitake mushrooms. The dip, which is very on-trend with the chili crisp craze, is vegan, dairy- and nut-free, and made in small batches with simple yet premium ingredients. Further, the company’s focus on bringing a novel, organic cross-category twist to the dip and spread arena aligns with consumers’ preferences for more diverse, savory options that elevate and expand their hummus habit and flavor palate.
Suggested Retail Price: $11.99 per 15.3-ounce package
Anthony Mangieri, the owner and chef of the renowned Una Pizza Napoletana restaurant, started Genio Della Pizza with genuine passion and decades of experience, setting out to create the perfect frozen pizza. The company’s pizzas are made in Italy from high-quality, traditionally cultivated ingredients, including freshly milled flour, buffalo mozzarella, local handpicked tomatoes and fresh Ligurian basil. After three years of research and development, Genio launched to near-immediate positive reviews.
GOODLES Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese
Suggested Retail Price: $4.19 per 6-ounce box
GOODLES’ research and development team tested more than 100 gluten-free recipes for its product before landing on the right blend of grains and noodle shapes for the highest nutritional value without compromising the eating experience. The team also carefully formulated both real cheese and a dairy-free alternative to maximize creaminess and properly cling to gluten-free noodles. The upgrade of popular boxed mac and cheese to something more nutritious has yielded Gluten-Free Cheddy Mac, which offers 13 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber with prebiotics, while the pun-tastic Vegan Be Heroes delivers 11 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber with prebiotics, and 21 nutrients from plants per serving.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Frozen Dessert Sandwiches
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 10.5-fluid-ounce 3-pack
These decadent dessert sandwiches – the first-ever wholesale novelty product from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – are available in Chocolate Silk Pie, Mint Chocolate Truffle, Triple Berry Tart and Key Lime Pie flavors. The sandwiches are made with premium, grass-grazed ice cream in a new format for the company, speaking to the rising demand in novelties while upholding the brand’s commitment to quality and flavor. Jeni’s pulled inspiration from the classic ice cream sandwiches of our youth — the kind with soft, almost cake-like cookies and creamy, clean ice cream in the center – and made sure that the ice cream truly shines in every sandwich.
KIND
ZEROg Added Sugar Bars
Suggested Retail Price: $7.99 per 6.2-ounce 5-count box
KIND ZEROg Added Sugar Bars may be the company’s first keto-friendly and zero-added-sugar products, with only 1 gram of total sugar, but they still feature whole ingredients like almonds and peanuts. The 1.2-ounce bars come in three classic best-selling flavors from KIND’s classic nut bars –Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, and Caramel Almond Sea Salt – and offer nutritional and functional benefits while not sacrificing on taste. As always, KIND is transparent about what’s in the bars and has clear packaging on part of the front label so consumers can see what the bar looks like without having to open it.
Know & Love Granola Bites
Suggested Retail Price: $4.49 per 7.5-ounce bag
One of the first products in Southeastern Grocers’ exclusive clean-label Know & Love brand to arrive on shelves, Granola Bites are baked in small batches and provide an on-the-go snack that consumers can feel good about. Available in Dark Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel, Double Chocolate and Blueberry flavors, the indulgent yet affordable bites are not only gluten-free, but also contain no artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Know & Love Granola Bites are merchandised on end caps and featured in special promotion offers to promote awareness. At launch, the product was supported with dedicated tags to draw consumers’ attention to the offering.
Lindt Lindor OatMilk Truffles
Suggested Retail Price: $6.59 per 5.1-ounce bag
As the No. 1 premium chocolate brand in the United States, Lindt saw a gap in premium plant-based chocolate truffle options. Enter Lindt Lindor OatMilk Truffles, an option created for consumers who are avoiding dairy, lactose-intolerant or simply eating more plant-based alternatives. The product offers a rich and creamy taste and texture comparable to its dairy-containing counterpart. Lindt Lindor OatMilk Truffles have been strategically promoted to enhance consumer awareness and stimulate retail sales via digital marketing, couponing, free-standing inserts and retailer media, eliciting a positive response from the market. This initial success led the brand to expand distribution nationally.
Little Leaf Farms Salad Kits
Suggested Retail Price: $5.49 per approximately 7-ounce package
Little Leaf Farms crafted on-trend Crispy Caesar and Southwest Salad Kits with its fan-favorite Baby Crispy Green Leaf lettuce, accompanied by flavorful toppings and creamy dressings. Sustainably grown using advanced greenhouse technologies and no pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, the kits’ greens are hands-free from seeding to harvesting to packaging, so no washing is required. Additionally, each kit is packaged in 100% post-consumer PET containers that are infinitely recyclable, provide a much longer shelf life and can be used as convenient containers for tossing the ingredients together, without the need for an extra bowl. The fresh-forward brand also offers 24/7 delivery.
Love Beets Classic Beet Salad Kit
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 13.6-ounce kit
The Love Beets Classic Beet Salad Kit is the brand’s first-ever multi-ingredient product, bringing a dynamic mix of flavors and nutrition to consumers’ tables. Knowing that convenience is key, Love Beets was eager to provide an easy meal hack with all of the essential ingredients to create a well-rounded, nutritious meal in seconds. Containing pre-cooked and -marinated beet wedges, the premium and versatile kit simplifies meal prep and saves home cooks valuable time in the kitchen. Love Beets is also committed to sustainability, practicing whole-crop use by sorting its USAgrown beets and funneling the various sizes into its full product range.
Mama Cozzi’s
Pizza Cookie
Suggested Retail Price: $3.99 per 9-ounce box
The ALDI-exclusive Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Cookie takes two favorites of the discounter’s shoppers – Mama Cozzi’s Pizza and a sweet treat – and combines them into a fun dessert that needs only to be popped in a warm oven, sliced and served. Expanding the private-brand range into another, sweeter area of the store, ALDI promoted the pizza cookie via social media, print and e-commerce. Additionally, the retailer’s customers shared their love for the product on their own social media pages, helping to drive sales. The pre-sliced item comes in a recyclable cardboard pizza box, enabling it to be easily shared and enjoyed.
Melinda’s Fire Roasted Garlic & Habanero Pepper Sauce & Condiment
Suggested Retail Price: $2.99 per 2-fluid-ounce bottle
Crafted with fresh, whole ingredients and the finest Habanero peppers sourced globally, bold yet balanced
Melinda’s Fire Roasted Garlic & Habanero Pepper Sauce & Condiment is created through a unique slow-roasting process in which the peppers are delicately charred over an open flame, intensifying their smoky flavor and infusing the sauce with a rich complexity. To drive consumer awareness and sell-through, Melinda’s partnered with retailers like Walmart, leveraging eye-catching displays that sold 1 million-plus bottles in just a few months. Despite its humble beginnings as a small family-owned business, the brand has seen continuous growth in the hot sauce category.
Milton’s Salt & Vinegar Gluten Free Crackers
Suggested Retail Price Range: $3.49-$3.99 per 4.5-ounce resealable bag
Milton’s Salt & Vinegar Gluten Free Crackers offer an innovative twist on the classic potato chip, providing a better-for-you snack made with recognizable ingredients. The Certified Gluten Free, Non-GMO Project Verified crackers cater to diverse dietary needs while containing 2 grams of protein and just 130 calories per serving. Milton’s Salt & Vinegar Gluten Free Crackers launched exclusively with Sprouts Farmers Market last year, going on to be featured in the retailer’s tailgating campaign that fall. The brand also partnered with Bitchin’ Sauce on in-store demos. Given the product’s success so far, Milton’s is now expanding distribution to additional retailers.
Montchevre Duos Goat Cheese
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99 per 4-ounce log Inspired by the rising popularity of flavor mashups, this first-to-market innovation offers two flavors in one, with a visibly vibrant flavored core, in two indulgent varieties: Sweet Hot Peppers + Garlic & Herbs and Blueberry + Lemonade. Montchevre, a popular U.S. goat cheese brand from Saputo USA, has promoted Duos and other offerings through a brand campaign encouraging consumers to Make Mischief with Montchevre. The campaign features a series of comical ads highlighting novel flavors and products inspired by mischievous goats. Further, Montchevre Duos packaging includes a horizontal orientation for its fresh goat cheese logs to accommodate retail merchandising practices.
MyBacon
Niman Ranch Certified Angus Beef
Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Suggested Retail Price: $10.99 per 16-ounce package
Niman Ranch Certified Angus Beef Grass-Fed Ground Beef combines the renowned quality of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand with the trusted humane and sustainable practices of Niman Ranch and its network of independent U.S. family ranchers. The result is a grass-fed ground beef product that’s well marbled, tender, and naturally raised without hormones or antibiotics. Thanks to the strong brand reputation of both Niman Ranch and CAB, consumers have a high level of trust in the product, resulting in high trial rates and repeat buyers. The product has been supported with robust branding on shelves to grab consumers’ attention.
Progress Lawn and Leaf Bags with 20% PCR Content
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per 60-count box
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 6-ounce package
MyForest Foods’ MyBacon was created to compete with conventional pork bacon on all sensory levels: taste, texture, smell, sizzle and sight. The product is made from farm-grown organic oyster mycelium — the root structure of mushrooms — sustainably grown in whole pieces, sliced into strips, and gently processed using minimal ingredients and handling. Additionally, unlike other plant-based products with their long ingredient lists of fillers and binders, MyBacon has only five simple ingredients and is free from allergens like dairy, soy and gluten. To promote the affordably priced item, MyForest focuses on in-store demos and sampling events like fairs, festivals and farmers markets.
Progress 20% PCR Lawn and Leaf Bags offer compelling attributes that set them apart. First, their post-consumer recycled content reflects a commitment to sustainability, meeting state PCR regulations while reducing environmental impact. Second, their durability ensures suitability for both indoor and outdoor use, providing reliable containment for lawn and leaf debris. The product was supported through direct communication with existing customers, fostering loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals, while newsletters and social media marketing campaigns drove consumer awareness and engagement. Manufacturer TrueChoicePack plans to increase PCR content to enhance the bags’ performance and will also offer various colors, closure styles and sizes.
SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Ready to Eat Pouch Soups
Suggested Retail Price: $3.79 per 14.1-ounce pouch
SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Ready to Eat Pouch
Reser’s Fine Foods Main Street Bistro Twice Baked Potatoes
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 20-ounce package
Featuring a distinctive rosette design, Reser’s convenient, generously portioned Main St Bistro Signature and Double Cheese varieties of skin-on Twice Baked Potatoes are the only refrigerated products of their kind in the marketplace. They’re also two of the few refrigerated sides that can be heated in an air fryer. Reser’s supported the line’s launch with a comprehensive consumer and trade campaign to drive awareness, trial and sales, including store shelf signage, on-shelf tags, influencer campaigns and meal-planning ideas. The product comes in custom-developed trays with two pockets to keep both potatoes perfectly positioned when the package is merchandised upright.
Royal Ready-to-Heat White Queso & Jalapeño Basmati Rice
Suggested Retail Price: $2.29 per 8.5-ounce pouch
Fusing Tex-Mex and Indian cuisines, easy-to-prepare Royal Ready-to-Heat White Queso & Jalapeño Basmati Rice adds a versatile dimension to any home-cooked meal. Further, each nutritious serving of Royal’s extra-long grain basmati rice contains 2 grams of sugar, 5 grams of protein and 220 calories per serving. The fluffy, aromatic rice is certified by the Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to environmentally responsible practices in rice production. Royal showcases the various ways that consumers can enjoy the product through a digital marketing strategy including original social content, influencer partnerships, dedicated email marketing, paid search and digital couponing.
Soups come in on-trend Three Lentil, Butternut Squash, Spicy Curry and Creamy Mushroom flavors. Packaged in easy-open pouches, the convenient gluten-free soups are flash-chilled to preserve their homemade taste and prevent mushy, overcooked ingredients. The product line features the only organic pouch soups sold at stores operating under Southeastern Grocers’ banners, driving their respective customers to try the grocery retailer’s own-brand assortment by offering unique flavor profiles and high-quality ingredients.
Simply Done Variety Pack Drawer Organizer
Suggested Retail Price: $14.69 per 355-count box
Offering 125 snack bags, 100 sandwich bags, 50 quart storage bags, 40 gallon storage bags and 40 quart freezer bags, the Simply Done Variety Pack Drawer Organizer streamlines decision-making for shoppers when it comes to convenience and stock-up opportunities. Instead of hunting through multiple cartons for the right-sized reclosable bags, consumers can now easily meet their food storage needs at an optimal price point.
Snappers
Strawberry & Waffle Cone
Pretzel Cluster
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 20-ounce pouch
Made with quality ingredients, Edward Marc Brands’ Snappers Strawberry & Waffle Cone Pretzel Cluster snack blends sweet and salty flavors, as well as crunchy and smooth textures, to create a harmonious eating experience. Meanwhile, the no-fuss (but still visually appealing) package and convenient serving size make Snappers an appropriate item for on-the-go indulgence. The brand established partnerships with retailers to increase visibility and accessibility of the product; this involved strategic placement of Snappers displays in high-traffic areas within stores, as well as promotional pricing.
Sprite Chill
Suggested Retail Price: $2.48 per 12-ounce can Launched in April, Sprite Chill added a refreshing twist of cherry-lime to the soft-drink brand’s iconic lemon-lime taste, accentuated by a proprietary blend of cooling agents to deliver an elevated sensory experience. Drawing on cherry-lime’s popularity among sparkling soft-drink consumers, Sprite Chill satisfied the consumer demand for innovation by harnessing technology to deliver a cooling sensation without an accompanying mint flavor. According to The Coca-Cola Co., Sprite Chill built on the success of past limited-time products like Sprite Lymonade Legacy and Sprite Holiday Winter Spiced Cranberry. Sprite Chill and Sprite Chill Zero Sugar were available in North America through July.
Sweet P’s Bake Shop Cake Bites and Cake Cookies
Suggested Retail Prices: $3.99-$4.99 per 9-ounce package of Cake Bites; $3.99 per 7.7-ounce package of Cake Cookies
Tia Lupita Sea Salt & Lime Grain-Free Tortilla Chips
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99 per 5-ounce bag
Tia Lupita Sea Salt & Lime Grain-Free Tortilla Chips were developed as a direct response to consumer feedback and demand, innovating on a classic tortilla chip flavor, but with Tia Lupita’s ingredient-forward quality. Using only mindful ingredients, the Sea Salt & Lime Grain-Free Tortilla Chips feature a blend of the native Mexican nopales (cactus) and upcycled okara flour, plus chia seeds. They also contain real lime juice to provide a zesty flavor profile. These nonGMO, gluten-free, low-carb and -calorie chips are also considered a good source of fiber, providing 4 grams of the nutrient per serving.
Made in a peanut- and tree nut-free facility, Sweet P’s Bake Shop Cake Bites and Cake Cookies from Topco Associates offer unique spins on indulgence. Prominent in-store displays are often all that’s required to quickly move these two treats from shelf to table, according to the cooperative, but the items are also supported by a combination of Sweet P’s in-store, in-aisle and online marketing tools. A clear plastic clamshell package displays the treats inside, with a Sweet P’s Bake Shop wrap label serving triple duty: branding each product, providing necessary information and ensuring that the packaging remains closed before purchase.
Tenayo
Spicy Al Pastor Barbecue Sauce
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per 14.5-ounce bottle
Tenayo Barbecue Sauces are the first and only Mexican-style barbecue sauces on the market. The Spicy Al Pastor sauce is made with earthy achiote, fiery peppers and just the right amount of pineapple, with 0 grams of added sugar. The tangy and spicy sauce isn’t just limited to grilling – its versatility allows it to be used as a marinade, dipping sauce or finishing drizzle for a variety of dishes, including tacos, grilled meats and sandwiches. It’s packaged in a BPA-free squeezable bottle, providing consumers with easy ways to use the sauce in new and exciting ways.
Tillamook Mac & Cheese and Tillamook Crispy Stone-Fired Pizzas
Suggested Retail Prices: $4.98 per 10-ounce box of mac & cheese; $10.99 per 19.95-to-21.65-ounce box of pizza
The recipes for Tillamook’s Mac & Cheese and StoneFired Pizzas were thoughtfully crafted to highlight the most important and beloved ingredient in either type of dish: the cheese. Both frozen meals bring consumers convenient ways to enjoy their favorite Tillamook cheeses in restaurant-quality meals that they can easily make at home. Like other Tillamook products, these frozen meals use high-quality ingredients and nothing artifi cial. The Mac & Cheese fl avors consist of Classic Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar & Uncured Bacon, and Cheddar & Hatch Chile, while the Pizza fl avors are Cheesy Uncured Pepperoni, Three Cheese, Three Cheese Supreme and Cheesy BBQ Chicken.
NEW! Mild Blue Cheese
Whipped SO VANILLA Alc-Infused Non-Dairy Whipped Cream
Suggested Retail Prices: $19.99, $14.99, $7.99 per 375-milligram, 200-milligram and 50-milligram bottles, respectively
TiNDLE Boneless Wings
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 per 8.4-ounce package
Plant-based TiNDLE Boneless Wings were created with the company’s R&D team, which looked to the palates of consumers and solicited feedback from chefs. The wings deliver an indulgent culinary experience through their meaty texture, satisfying bite and rich flavor profile, replicating traditional chicken wings with a peppery finish. They’re crafted from a blend of soy protein, wheat flour and Lipi — a proprietary emulsion of plant-based ingredients, including sunflower oil and natural flavors.
Tofurky Pepp’roni
Suggested Retail Price: $6.50 per 4-ounce package
Tofurky Pepp’roni slices deliver the spicy, chewy and authentic flavor of pepperoni, minus the meat. Designed to be eaten hot or cold, plant-based Pepp’roni slices are slow-cured for a concentrated flavor and to mimic the distinct taste and texture of traditional pepperoni. Tofurky Pepp’roni also browns, chars and curls just like traditional pepperoni when cooked, delivering an authentic pepperoni experience without animal products.
TopCare Mometasone 60 Allergy Spray
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per 0.34-fluid-ounce 60-spray container
A strong contender for attention in the allergy aisle, TopCare Mometasone 60 Allergy Spray is enjoying brisk sales. With the “Compare to” message boldly displayed on package, the Topco Associates LLC private brand contains the same active ingredient as the best-selling national-brand product. The non-drowsy, full-prescription-strength spray is a scentfree mist that offers relief from allergies and nasal congestion.
TopCare Orange Flavored ClearLax Powder
Suggested Retail Price: $10.49 per 8.3-ounce bottle
Compared with the top-selling national brand in the category, TopCare Orange Flavored ClearLax Powder offers pleasant-tasting, grit-free flavor for the comfortable relief of digestive issues at an own-brand price point. While base sales in total digestive health have remained flat, category growth has come from flavor innovation. According to Topco Associates LLC, its product meets the demand of laxative users requesting a better taste and consumption experience.
TrueGleam Peptide Eye Gel
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 per 1-fluid-ounce jar
Made in the U.S.A., TrueGleam Peptide Eye Gel boasts cruelty-free practices, and its exclusion of parabens and sulfates aligns with the demand for ethical and safe skin care. The peptide formula and botanicals offer such targeted benefits as the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness around the delicate eye area. TrueGleam is also ideal for individuals prone to irritation or allergic reactions. The product’s gender-neutral design language appeals to a broad spectrum of consumers, eschewing traditional gender stereotypes in skin care packaging. TrueGleam accounts for more than half of American Essentials’ category revenue.
The 14% alcohol-infused SO VANILLA Non-Dairy Whipped Cream product is creating a new category of alcohol-infused adult beverage toppers that can be cross-merchandised with food. Due to their high-quality wine base, Whipped FUSION products like SO VANILLA can be sold anywhere that wine and beer can be sold, providing much higher levels of availability. Additionally, being non-dairy, the product attracts a new demographic of people who have not been able to enjoy traditional whipped cream. It’s also gluten-free and shelf-stable.
Wide Awake Coffee Co. Single-Serve Coffee Pods
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99 per 72-pack
With more shoppers drinking coffee at home due to hybrid work schedules, Wide Awake Coffee Co. offers affordable premium-quality coffee at a better value with large single-serve pods of Donut Shop Blend and Wide Awake Blend coffee in a 72-pack format. Made from 100% specialty-grade arabica coffee beans, the product is well positioned to win on both price point and flavor. Retail coffee is an area of opportunity to reach consumers spending more time at home and less on foodservice. Plus, coffee drinkers can replicate café experiences at home in an eco-conscious way with the 100% compostable eco-pods.
Wild Planet Wild Tuna Quinoa Salad
Suggested Retail Price Range: $4.49-$4.99 per 5.6-ounce package
Wild Planet Wild Tuna Quinoa Salad is ready to eat, with no heating, cooking, additional ingredients, refrigeration or preparation required. The salad features 100% sustainably pole-and-line-caught wild skipjack tuna that’s responsibly harvested to safeguard ocean habitats and marine life, along with a blend of organic sweet corn, zucchini and peas.
Yellowstone Bunkhouse Medium Roast Ground Coffee
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per 12-ounce package
Yellowstone Bunkhouse Medium Roast Ground Coffee coincides with the widespread fascination with cowboy culture and cuisine, bringing the cultural phenomenon of the “Yellowstone” TV series to breakfast tables nationwide. Setting itself apart from traditional medium roasts, the Bunkhouse Medium Roast combines a smooth and easy-drinking profile with the rich and full-bodied character usually found in darker roasts. Crafted with 100% arabica coffee beans, it offers undertones of floral and spice leading to a robust center of hearty beef broth, with hints of leather adding depth to the flavor profile. “Yellowstone”’s 19 million TV viewers underscore the franchise’s strong brand equity and engaged fan base.
Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Sinfully-Seasoned Pretzel Stix
Suggested Retail Price: $6.99 per 16-ounce bag
Zapp’s Sinfully-Seasoned Spicy Cajun Pretzel Stix are generously dusted with Zapp’s signature Cajun seasoning – a mix of spice and garlic, with a hint of smokiness – a unique flavor in seasoned pretzels. They offer a bold and savory kick reminiscent of New Orleans’ culinary flair.
The packaging also features iconic New Orleans-inspired designs to connect the flavor to its Louisiana roots, as well as including a resealable pouch for ensured freshness. The pretzels have driven more than $500,000 in sales since their launch in February 2024.
Utz Mike’s Hot Honey Potato Chips
Suggested Retail Price: $4.79 per 7.75-ounce bag
Pioneering swicy flavor, Utz Mike’s Hot Honey Potato Chips offer snacking fans a craveable new taste that combines the sweet heat of the No. 1 hot honey brand, Mike’s Hot Honey, with the crisp saltiness of classic Utz Potato Chips. Increasing consumer awareness, the brands collaborated with New York-based Dough Doughnuts on limited-time Mango Hot Honey DoughnUTZ, and the chips were also promoted at the Governors Ball Music Festival. Originally planned as a limited-time product, the successful flavor became a permanent Utz item.
Zoup! Good, Really Good Soups
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 per 16-ounce jar
Everything that Zoup! learned from its restaurant customers over the years – from their fl avor preferences to their favorite menu items – has helped create its retail soups.
The newest fl avors of Zoup! Good, Really Good Soups are made with thoughtfully crafted recipes that deliver high-quality, clean ingredients. For instance, the Chicken Potpie and Chicken Noodle soups feature a traditional mirepoix and simple herbs and spices, plus antibiotic-free white-meat chicken. Each option is free of artifi cial ingredients, preservatives and GMOs.
Wegmans Farms for the Future
THE RETAILER IS REDEFINING RETAIL INNOVATION, ONE BRÛLÉE SQUASH AT A TIME.
By Gina Acosta
he future of food can be found nestled among emerald-green pastures and rolling hills lush with wildflowers. Red barns, breathtaking valleys and pristine lakes dot the landscape. A visitor to the area might just think they’ve stumbled into heaven, instead of the cradle of innovation for one of America’s most beloved grocers.
About a half-mile up the hill, Canandaigua Lake comes into view, and so does the Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard. Apple trees, sunflowers, herbs and greenhouses abut a beautiful large wooden building. When you park the car and step on the ground, flittering pollinators and the aroma of lavender envelop you.
While much of the grocery industry pivots attention and capital toward artificial intelligence and other technologies as the next transformation of the retail food industry, Wegmans is doubling down on nature. The company’s organic farming operation in New York state has more than doubled in size since first opening in 2007. Wegmans Food Markets, which has 111 stores and 54,000 employees across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, today farms more than 40 acres of tomatoes, herbs, apples, grapes,
Wegman Food Markets’ organic farming operation in New York state has more than doubled in size since first opening in 2007. The company today farms more than 40 acres near Lake Canandaigua.
ful to future generations to make healthy sustainable food. And regenerative agriculture is at the heart of how we grow our food and soil; if we grow better soil, we grow better food.”
3 Pillars of Sustainability
The grocery industry is changing, and much of that change is accelerating due to consumer eating habits, technology, sustainability concerns and the way we source our food. At the Wegmans Organic Farm, the company is not only innovating to produce more sustainable food that its customers are demanding, but it’s also sharing what it has learned with partner growers to help them become more sustainable as well, transforming the industry at a time when climate change, food insecurity, rising costs and other challenges are straining the U.S. food system.
Wegmans’ sustainability pillars include sustainable growing, waste reduction, sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing, and the farm allows the retailer to innovate on and fast-track those goals.
“When you think of our farm and orchard, there’s three main focus areas: sustainability, innovation and education,” says Hayes. “Whether it’s a new package that’s more sustainable, whether it’s our compost innovation, whether it’s growing an item for Wegmans that has never been offered before, such as brûlée squash. If it’s a success, it will go to a partner grower so they can grow it on a much larger scale to supply all our stores.”
That’s because the Wegmans farm is not a production farm.
“Our purpose is not to grow everything for Wegmans,” explains Mark Limoli, Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard manager. “We have items that give us foundational
The Future of Food
support, allowing us to dedicate time and energy to the three pillars.”
Wegmans started out with its original 50-acre farm property in 2007, and then expanded by acquiring a 168-acre orchard nearby in 2014. The Wegmans Organic Farm today grows fruits, vegetables, lavender, flowers for floral bouquets, microgreens and cat grass, among other crops. The farm also produces cider, maple syrup, honey and lavender products. Since planting its first seeds in 2007, the farm has trialed more than 100 organic crops.
“In 2017, we added a controlled environmental agriculture building, so we can do year-round growing. Plus, we continue to collaborate and share knowledge with outside farmers in the agriculture community as well as our partner growers on the East Coast,” says Hayes.
On a tour of the farm and orchard in July, Progressive Grocer had the opportunity to see the broccoli, arugula micro-greens and wheatgrass growing in all of their splendor, and to sample new varieties of cherry tomatoes and purple scallions as well.
“We think we’ve got a winner with the purple organic scallions. It’s an item that you don’t normally see in Wegmans, so we’re very proud of that. We’re going to do red kuri and black futsu squashes that are new for us,” says Hayes, offering a mouthwatering description of the brûlée squash that Wegmans grew an acre of last year:
“The butternut squash can be considered a little mild, and the honey nut squash is a beautiful small squash that’s very, very sweet. The brûlée is the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess, right in between the butternut and the honey nut.”
In addition to growing scrumptious varieties of squash, the farm is currently prioritizing regenerative agriculture practices and increasing efficiencies. Solar panels on the property provide a portion of the farm’s energy needs.
“We are also asking ourselves, how are we cover cropping?” says Limoli. “What does that look like? What are we cover cropping with between our beds? What is our long-term farm plan? How are we controlling weeds? Are we doing it in a way that’s giving back to our soil? No one became an organic farmer because they wanted to farm in black plastic, right? So how can we farm better around the black plastic we need to use? And how can we start to work toward thinking about systems that involve less black plastic?”
In addition to regenerating the soil and experimenting with compost, the farm also serves as a lab where the company plays with new produce packaging.
“When you think of tomatoes, the team worked really hard to go from plastic to cardboard, which was a 98% reduction in plastic,” says Limoli. We found that as much as we love this packaging, visibility to the product presents a challenge. Our focus this year is to have success in both packaging and success in the stores through sales. We feel it’s our responsibility at the farm to figure this out. This year, we went with a lower-profile cardboard package that still has a sustainable element to it, with twice as much product visibility.”
“What we do at the Wegmans Organic Farm is, we feed the soil.”
The data on whether grocery shoppers are prioritizing products with sustainable packaging is mixed, but Wegmans says that its customers and employees think doing so is crucial.
But plastic is not the only material that Wegmans is trying to reduce. Every week, the farm produces about 10,000 pounds of what it calls packhouse waste, and the farm has made it a priority to put it back into the soil.
“We put it in our compost so we can spread it back out on our fields, knowing that we’re replenishing the soil using the ingredients that came from the farm. Plus, through cover cropping, we’re putting an investment into the soil. This isn’t something we’re going to harvest, but it’s going to make the soil more nutrient-rich so that whatever we are growing in it has that wonderful organic flavor profile. So, what we do at the Wegmans Organic Farm is, we feed the soil to feed the plants,” notes Hayes.
Wegmans created 560,000 pounds of compost at its farm in 2023, equivalent to 14 tractor-trailer loads of food kept out of landfills.
“We have been surveying customers about this topic since 2021, and a pretty healthy number of customers think it’s important,” affirms Jason Wadsworth, packaging and sustainability category merchant at Wegmans. “When we survey those folks, things pop up, whether it’s packaging or waste or carbon footprint. And we’re also listening through internal feedback channels. So that has helped us form our priorities and modify our focus within those areas, based on that feedback.”
As for the education pillar at the Organic Farm, Wegmans continues to educate its employees through tours, hands-on experiences and presentations. Additionally, educating youth in the community about agriculture has been an important focus. Wegmans recently launched a new program with Finger Lakes Community College to offer interns an opportunity to work on the farm. August, September and October are the busiest months, when onions, tomatoes, squash, apples, grapes, and flowers for bouquets are harvested.
On a tour of the Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard this past July, Progressive Grocer had the opportunity to see the broccoli and arugula microgreens, as well as wheatgrass, growing in all of their splendor in cooled greenhouses.
A New Line on Seafood Sales
THERE’S ROOM FOR GROWTH IN THE SEAFOOD CATEGORY, WITH POTENTIAL IN FRESH, FROZEN AND SHELF-STABLE VARIETIES, AND A FOCUS ON MESSAGING.
By Lynn Petrak
f there are plenty of fish in the sea, as the saying goes, there are plenty of opportunities to boost sales across seafood categories. Although seafood has experienced some overall declines in units and sales in recent history, greater product variety, an emphasis on sourcing and sustainability, and continuing cook-at-home behaviors can net a greater share of shoppers’ protein dollars.
According to data from Chicago-based market research firm Circana, shared in the 2024 “Power of Seafood” report published by FMI — The Food Industry Association, 85.4% of households purchase “any” type of seafood. The category rang up $18.8 billion in sales in 2023, fueled by fresh ($6.2 billion) and frozen ($6.7 billion) products.
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) confirms that fresh salmon (above) remains a top seafood choice.
Key Takeaways
Despite a 3.1% decline in seafood revenue in 2023, this year’s market is looking better. “We’ve seen overall seafood consumption levels drop due to inflation-driven prices and seafood costs relative to other proteins, but we continue to see shoppers enjoy seafood at home, particularly frequent seafood eaters who consume seafood two more or more times per week,” points out Rick Stein, VP of fresh foods at Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, many shoppers learned how to prepare seafood dishes at home, and they haven’t forgotten those skills or the savings they see when preparing seafood meals at home.”
Greater product variety, an emphasis on sourcing and sustainability, and continuing cook-athome behaviors can benefit the seafood category.
Frozen and shelf-stable products have made gains as shoppers opt for value and convenience.
Food retailers can attract more seafood shoppers and move more products through educational and promotional efforts.
Some products are faring better than others as shoppers balance value and at-home eating experiences. July sales data shared by San Antonio-based 210 Analytics reveals that dollar sales remain down overall, but more species are growing in pounds, among them salmon and shrimp. Cod is also having a solid year in terms of sales, that data shows.
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) reports that two-thirds of consumers who have a preference opt for Alaska salmon over any other type. That said, people are looking for more options, and suppliers and retailers are giving it to them, the Juneau-based organization has found.
food, and that is an opportunity for food retailers to focus on the sustainability and health and well-being aspects of seafood options, along with educating shoppers about different seafood varieties and preparation options,” observes Stein.
“Seafood in more formats means more sales overall,” asserts Megan Rider, domestic marketing director at ASMI.
Quality Meets Value and Convenience
Frozen seafood has been a particular bright spot as shoppers gravitate to value-oriented offerings and are getting more familiar with using such products. “Seventy-nine percent of seafood consumers are likely to buy frozen seafood, which is seen as affordable, convenient and increasingly recognized as equal in quality to fresh,” notes Rider. “Plus, having it available and promoted year-round in more places in the store will ensure that consumers can easily fi nd and purchase it.” She adds that Circana data shows that eight in 10 consumers are likely to buy frozen seafood, and most of them cite the convenience factor.
Additionally, shelf-stable seafood is having a moment, for similar reasons. “The sales of cans/ pouches are also accelerating,” affi rms Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at 210 Analytics. Sales of these items rose 1.5% from July 2023 to July 2024 to hit $263 million for the latter month.
Several new ready-to-eat offerings sold in the center store have come to market. Recent examples include canned smoked rainbow trout from Safe Catch; hand-packed canned sardines in three flavors (Coconut Curry, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Tomato Sauce) from Patagonia Provisions; and a soon-to-launch cold-smoked tuna in a stand-up package from Acme Smoked Fish Corp.
Casting Around for Information and Inspiration
In addition to offering different formats and species while also promoting favorites like salmon and shrimp, food retailers that carry seafood products can attract more shoppers and move more products through educational and promotional efforts. Leveraging the halo effect of seafood is one way to bolster sales and volume. “As infl ationary pressures decline, we’ll see more consumers return to sea-
Tinned seafood products have performed well over the past year, and more shoppers are looking at labels for sustainable sourcing claims.
Rider agrees, pointing to such nutritional attributes of seafood as high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. “Marketing efforts should continue to communicate the health benefits of seafood, which consistently win out against other proteins,” she asserts.
Rider also underscores the importance of providing cooking instructions. “While sales and promotions are the primary in-store purchase driver, two in three shoppers say cooking guidance, like recipes, techniques and more, would inspire them to consume seafood more often,” she observes.
Seafood departments can provide shortcuts to make it more convenient for shoppers to prepare seafood dishes at home. “For both cost and convenience, shoppers are attracted to value-added products like marinated fi lets or fresh-prepared items like kebabs and salmon cakes,” says Rider. “For example, an Alaska seafood wholesaler recently launched frozen miso-glazed Alaska black cod fi lets, to great success, introducing what was traditionally perceived as a high-end, luxury species to aspiring home cooks around the country.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many shoppers learned how to prepare seafood dishes at home, and they haven’t forgotten those skills or the savings they see when preparing seafood meals at home.”
—Rick Stein, FMI
To help grocers assist their shoppers, ASMI offers in-store merchandising materials, training, ads, photography and recipes. The group also provides information on how fresh-frozen seafood can be
Consumers are growing accustomed to preparing meals with frozen seafood as they sharpen culinary skills picked up during the pandemic.
of seafood consumers say that a store’s commitment to sustainable or environmentally responsible seafood is the primary reason in their decision of where they purchase seafood.
Source: “The Power of Seafood” report, Circana and FMI
prepared without thawing, using Cook It Frozen techniques.
Stein echoes the importance of giving consumers more ideas, including suggestions directly from seafood associates. “During these inflationary times, shoppers want to be sure they are getting the most value out of their purchases, and with seafood, shoppers are uncertain of how to cook it properly,” he notes. “Shoppers tell us they want more education from their seafood department
“Seafood in more formats means more sales overall.”
—Megan Rider, ASMI
about cooking techniques, recipes and the different benefits of seafood varieties. That’s why customer service-oriented seafood counter associates are so important. Food retailers should be sure
to share the health and well-being and sustainability benefits of seafood with shoppers, such as USDA’s MyPlate information encouraging consumers to eat seafood two or more times per week.”
Finally, grocers can reach sustainability-minded consumers by showcasing seafood products sourced in a responsible way. “Seafood consumers prefer wild-caught seafood four to one over farmed, and across the U.S., shoppers prefer seafood from Alaska five to one, compared to other sources,” observes Rider. “For retailers, this means continuing to highlight the source, such as Alaska, as well as
ASMI reports that 61% of consumers say that they eat seafood at least once a week, and six in 10 would like to eat more.
sustainability certifications, such as Responsible Fisheries Management.”
The “Power of Seafood” report affirms that shoppers are paying attention to sourcing from a sustainability standpoint. According to that study, nearly 74% of seafood consumers say that a store’s commitment to sustainable or environmentally responsible seafood is the primary (14%), a very important (32%) or a somewhat important (27%) reason in their decision of where they purchase seafood. Additionally, half of shoppers are now aware that their seafood store identifies whether the seafood sold there is sustainable, up from 31% in 2019.
