around its highlighting of “Guideline Daily Amounts” (GDAs) of calories and key cautionary nutrients on its packaging. Mars believes its program will dovetail nicely with proprietary,
in-store nutritional-ranking schemes already operated by many supermarket chains.
“The consumer is our boss, and this is something that consumers have asked us for,”
Hank Izzo, vice president of research and development for Mars Chocolate North America, told CPGmatters. “They want clear, transparent information, and we are giving it to them...
Meeting the challenges of today’s marketplace will be the theme of the fourth annual Food Industry Summit hosted by the food marketing department of St. Joseph’s University March 11 in Philadelphia.
Today’s shopper will be on the mind of marketers and retailers as they present their experiences and perspectives on a range of topics: the changing consumer, new store formats, the economic downturn, private label, food safety, urban supermarkets, and more.
One of the speakers, Jeffrey Brown, President and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, was a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama at last week’s State of the Union Address in recognition of his work in building supermarkets in impoverished urban areas. At the conference, he will explain how he manages to serve shoppers in “supermarket deserts” where residents have no alternative to buying groceries in poorly-stocked bodegas and high-priced convenience stores.
“This conference is where you can get a solid reading on what the issues are and what you should be worrying about,” said Mark Lang, a professor of food marketing at the university. “You can get insights from successful companies on how to think about these issues and how to respond to them...
Two different worlds in coupon redemption widen the competitive imbalance between larger and smaller retailers – and add to the ongoing fiscal pressures on CPG manufacturers.
On one hand, large retailers have the muscle to be paid within 15 days and gain leeway with payers on questionable coupons submitted. They also have the nerve to take invoice deductions off of CPG supplier invoices if agents don’t pay them quickly enough.
On the other hand, independents and smaller chains get relatively shabby treatment even if they are ethical and comply with payer requirements. One example: it takes 30 days
for them to either be paid on redeemed coupons, or at least notified of a discrepancy that prevents such payment. Then the real fun of proving legitimacy begins. That could draw out over months or years because the reason for refusal to pay isn’t called out, so it requires investigation before an appropriate challenge can get underway...
Mars, Inc. staked out a position as a health and nutrition trailblazer in the worldwide confectionary industry several years ago. Now the marketer of such brands as M&Ms, Snickers and Milky Way is building on that leadership with a national rollout of a new nutritional-labeling system on the packaging of all of its candy products.
The privately held, $30-billion company plans to begin working with retailers on point-of-purchase (POP) ad campaigns and shopper education programs
RETAIL TRENDS
Target Bulks Up
With New Promotion
Target says its "The Great Save" promotion gives consumers all the benefits of bulk deals found at warehouse clubs without the need for any membership fees.
"The Great Save is a way for Target to offer our guests exceptional deals on everyday essentials -- just in time for their post-holiday stock-up -- and a treasure-hunt experience with a variety of exciting designer brands," said Kathee Tesija, executive vice president of merchandising, Target, in a press release.
"This event is a fresh, innovative approach to meeting our guests' evolving needs and providing them with the opportunity to save even more at Target."
The promotion, which runs January 3 through February 21, is an attempt by the chain to
build on the promise behind its "Expect More. Pay Less." Consumers will be able to buy products across a host of categories -- from apparel, electronics, food, health and beauty care, housewares and more -- at substantial savings, according to the chain...
In today’s competitive environment, marketers who understand and apply the principles of consumer behavior can accomplish much. By using a Market Map, they can precisely understand how consumers are behaving, for what reasons, and with what trade-offs.
Knowing the basis of competition is critical, not only against store brands, but against the entire relevant frame of reference.
In this Webcast, hear why a Market Map is a proven platform for evaluating and predicting the impact of different marketing strategies.
Click on the first arrow in the control bar to listen:
