SymphonyIRI Group

Understanding And Engaging The Digital Shopper Webinar Replay

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:28:02 -0600

Return download PDF UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGING THE DIGITAL SHOPPER Manufacturers and retailers are still struggling to accurately understand and leverage shoppers’ increasing use of smart phones, social networking and the Internet as they plan and execute shopping trips. Meanwhile, shoppers continue to adjust their strategies through the availability of quickly evolving digital devices and applications. To build brand and banner loyalty, manufacturers and retailers must have a near household level understanding of what is on shoppers’ minds as they prepare for their shopping trips and engage effectively with them online. Which consumers represent the greatest opportunity for online engagement and what is the best way to connect with them in the digital space? New technologies have emerged that can provide a valuable “window” into what shoppers are thinking and planning. Based on findings from SymphonyIRI's DigitaLink Segmentation Study, this webinar introduces five unique segments of the market that exhibit different attitudes about and usage of digital devices and media. Using case studies, explore how marketers can develop effective marketing activation programs for key target groups. * Understand consumers’ differing attitudes toward digital devices and online media and how this affects their online engagement. * Analyze and target shoppers who represent the greatest opportunities for your brands and stores. * Implement meaningful digital marketing strategies that will win shoppers’ loyalty. Hosts: Carl Edstrom, Principal, Survey Solutions, and Paul Lainis, Executive, Consumer & Shopper Insights, SymphonyIRI Group Duration: 60 Minutes

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 2/3/2011

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 13:10:47 -0600

* Walmart Makes Organizational Moves, Puts Marketing Under Merchandising * FMI Unveils New Cook-Off Contest For Supermarket Chefs * Staples To Open New E-Commerce Innovation Center * Sansolo Speaks: The Revolution is Here * Cooperative Finds A New Retail Outpost * Whole Foods Co-CEO Talks About 2012 Growth Strategies * Costco Goes Long With Super Bowl Offer * CVS Announces New Rx Text Alert Service * FastNewsBeat * The MNB Wal-Mart Watch * Executive Suite

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Report Examines Merchandising Trends

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:40:32 -0600

Times & Trends Report Finds Merchandising Activity Strongest in Drug Channel; Price-Only Tactics Experiencing Sharpest, Most Consistent Acceleration CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2011 - In today’s world of economic trouble and conservative purchase behaviors, it is the value proposition that is playing a central role in the enhanced shopping experience. The latest issue of SymphonyIRI Group’s Times & Trends, “Merchandising Trends: Driving Consumption through Shopper Marketing,” examines how merchandising is acting as the platform for communicating that value to customers. “Merchandising is a fantastic tool for educating and informing shoppers,” says Susan Viamari, editor, Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Today’s shoppers are very open to both as they plan and execute their shopping missions. After all, they are looking to CPG marketers to help them live well while staying within their budgets.” After several long years of decline, merchandising, defined as displays, feature ads, feature and display combined and price reduction only, has been thrust back into the spotlight by The Great Recession and economic turmoil. In 2011, 47 percent of CPG categories enjoyed increased merchandising support. While this reflects decelerating growth versus 2010, when 58 percent increased support, trends continue to indicate a highly promotional environment that seeks to drive purchase behavior in a difficult economic environment. Across grocery, drug and mass channels, 53 percent of categories experienced increased lift from merchandising activities during the past year. This is a notable improvement from 2010, when 46 percent saw lift increase. Merchandising performance within the grocery channel is in line with average industry trends, while the share of categories seeing lift within the drug channel lags industry average by 8 points. However, the drug channel’s merchandising focus is on the rise, so lift may accelerate in the coming year. Economy-Driven Rituals Prompt Increased Merchandising Food and beverage categories are well-represented among the ranks of those categories seeing the biggest jump in merchandising support during the past year, reflective of retailer efforts to play to economy-driven rituals around home-based eating and drinking. Another powerful trend marking CPG-related behavior these days is the pre-planning of shopping excursions. Today, three-quarters of consumers are making CPG decisions before entering the retail environment and an equal number enter the store with a shopping list in hand. Despite the high numbers of consumers following these practices, feature and feature/display combined support—tactics which begin to impact the shopper before she enters the retail environment—have each shown decelerating growth trends during the past year. This is an important change and is one to be monitored closely. Merchandising Support Begins at Home Today, 63 percent of consumers look at store circulars before heading to the grocery store. And, 49 percent of categories achieved lift of 100 percent or more from feature-only merchandising efforts during 2011. When backed by display activity, a whopping 84 percent of categories achieved lift of 100 percent or greater during the same time period. Despite these powerful results, feature only and feature/display combined support is much less prevalent versus other, less powerful tactics. For example, 87 percent of categories achieved greater than 10 percent of volume sales with price reduction-only tactics despite the fact that lift of more than 100 percent occurred in only a handful of instances. “Price will continue to have a very high profile in the hearts and minds of consumers in the coming year,” said John McIndoe, senior vice president, Marketing, SymphonyIRI. “As such, price-related strategies—both everyday and promotional—must be honed with surgical precision from this day forward. Pricing strategies must be consumer-centric, enticing consumers to buy, while still allowing achievement of corporate and partner goals.” Manufacturers and retailers seeking to maximize opportunity within the new, emerging retail environment should consider the following action items: * Identify new growth opportunities and threats: Manufacturers must understand price elasticity of demand across categories/brands and leverage that knowledge to develop and refine everyday and promotional pricing strategies; retailers should closely track channel trends and the impact of competitor merchandising efforts on those trends to determine whether/when to adjust their own merchandising-related efforts. * Work with key accounts to develop strategies that address market and store-level shopping patterns and needs: Manufacturers should work with key retailer partners to develop, at the market and/or store level, targeted strategies for their brands that help to contribute to overall category sales growth; retailers should build cross–merchandising/cross-promotional programs that make parallel products easier to locate/access. * Continually measure and monitor pricing and merchandising execution and impact: Manufacturers should monitor store-level merchandising performance and retail execution among key retail partners and adjust mid-path as warranted; retailers should carefully test all pricing and merchandising initiatives at a micro level prior to roll out and then closely monitor impact of roll out. SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “Merchandising Trends: Driving Consumption through Shopper Marketing,” at 12 p.m. CT on Feb. 15. To register for the webinar, hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, please visit here. About the Report This month’s Times & Trends Report, “Merchandising Trends: “Driving Consumption through Shopper Marketing,” is a free report available from SymphonyIRI, the world’s leading innovation partner that enables CPG, retail and healthcare companies to create and maximize new opportunities. The findings of this report were compiled based on information from SymphonyIRI Shopper Marketing Suite™, SymphonyIRI Price & Trade Advantage, SymphonyIRI Shopper Insights Advantage™, SymphonyIRI AttitudeLink™, and SymphonyIRI New Media Solutions. To download the report, visit here. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contact: Shelley Hughes E-mail: Shelley.Hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Blog: Creating an Oasis of Healthier Options in Food Deserts

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:37:47 -0600

Healthy eating alternatives, such as whole grains, lower sugar, 100 calorie packs, and nutrition-packed foods, are on a trend for 2012 and beyond. However, customers living in a food desert, areas where healthy and affordable food is difficult to find, may never be able to find the latest and greatest healthy food options. Food deserts, which are often a result of a supermarket shortage and are prevalent in rural and urban areas, particularly among low-socioeconomic minority communities, are well associated with a variety of diet-related health problems. Historically, retailers have closed their doors in areas with higher crime and lower foot traffic, causing pockets of food deserts in communities with the highest need for better food options. Recent research revealed that supermarkets re-entering these areas are turning the tide by providing healthier eating alternatives and healthy eating education opportunities for some of the country’s most at-risk populations. Although there are currently several programs at the federal, state, and local levels focused on increasing the incentives for supermarkets to operate in underserved areas, solving the food desert issue is a complicated scenario. There are plenty of opportunities, however, for both manufacturers and retailers to take action. Manufacturers have an opportunity to invest in marketing to targeted consumers in food deserts, teaching consumers about healthy eating options and more about the brands and products that would correlate appropriately with healthy alternatives. However, it doesn’t stop at education; shoppers need to be able to FIND their products. Enter retailers, who can capitalize and benefit from potential federal or state funding and tax assistance to open stores in underserved areas, as well as to expand product offerings. For example, The Reinvestment Fund (TRF), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit community development organization with a track record for developing supermarkets in underserved areas, has helped to open supermarkets in the most underserved areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. TRF helped lead the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which began in 2004 and has so far provided $74 million in loans and $11 million in grants to finance 80 supermarket projects. Similar funding may be available in other states/municipalities for retailers. Although admittedly not a simple task, if the right mechanisms and strategies are properly executed by CPG manufacturers and retailers, there is a great opportunity to advance change and address the food desert issue, ultimately creating an “oasis” with healthier food options for everyone.

SNAXPO 2012 March 16 - 19, 2012

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:37:55 -0600

SNAXPO 2012 March 16 - 19, 2012 Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown - Phoenix, AZ Description: The world’s largest, most comprehensive trade show devoted exclusively to the international snack food industry, SNAXPO brings together owners, executives and buyers from every segment of the industry. SymphonyIRI Speaker: Sally Lyons Wyatt, Executive, Client Strategy and Renewals, SymphonyIRI Group Learn More: http://www.snaxpo.com/

NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo May 8 - 10, 2012

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:09:49 -0600

NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo May 8 - 10, 2012 Location: McCormick Place - Chicago, IL Description: The Sweets & Snacks Expo®, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, is among the largest confectionery, cookie and snack shows, and the only show featuring attendance from every major trade channel. SymphonyIRI Speaker: Sally Lyons Wyatt, Executive, Client Strategy and Renewals, SymphonyIRI Group Learn More: https://s3.goeshow.com/nca/sweetsandsnacks/2012/

Blog: Using DigitaLink Segmentation to Uncover how Connected Consumers Shop

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:03:48 -0600

The recent surge of smartphone, tablet and e-reader purchases demonstrates an obvious trend of increased consumer connectivity. With digital media literally at their fingertips, shoppers can collect product and promotional information around the clock, forming purchase decisions well beyond brick-and-mortar store hours. But how many actually use Internet-connected devices (mobile or stationary) in this manner? Internet users range from those who communicate only through e-mail for work or social purposes, to deal-seekers actively engaging with brands via social media. An understanding of digital media consumption patterns can help manufacturers and retailers direct sales and marketing efforts to passionate online consumers. Today, we announced DigitaLink™, a new segmentation solution which does just that. Combining Consumer Network Panel data and MarketPulse research, we classified Web users into five DigitaLink segments. The unique profiles are based on the type of device consumers use to connect, online activities, technological comfort level, and attitudes about digital media usage. DigitaLink divides consumers into the following groups, listed from the savviest digital shoppers to the least: * Digitize Me! * Show Me the Money * Wired for Work * Socializers * Technophobes You can learn more about the characteristics and demographics of these DigitaLink segments, in a webinar that I’ll be hosting, entitled “Understanding and Engaging the Digital Shopper.” The webinar will take place on Tuesday, February 7 at 11 a.m. CST. It will describe the most promising groups to target and explore case study-based strategies for activating online marketing campaigns. To sign up for the webinar, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/UnderstandingAndEngagingTheDigitalShopper/tabid/281/Default.aspx We’ll live tweet the webinar via @symphiri. You can also engage in the discussion by leaving comments on this blog.

Press Release: SymphonyIRI DigitaLink™ Offers New Perspectives into Consumer Consumption of Digital Media and Segmented Demographics for Engagement

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:03:48 -0600

“Show Me the Money” and “Digitize Me!” Segments Provide Best Short-Term Opportunities for CPG Manufacturers and Retailers Seeking to Expand Online Strategies CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2012 – Digital media has penetrated Americans’ daily rituals as more shoppers have increased the number of ways they access the Internet. To provide new insights into how quickly consumers are embracing digital media, which demographic groups are most interested in near-term engagement, and what strategies to utilize to best engage these audiences, SymphonyIRI has released its new segmentation solution, DigitaLink™. DigitaLink leverages SymphonyIRI’s Consumer Network Panel, MarketPulse™ research and analytic capabilities to segment shoppers into unique profiles, enabling CPG and retail marketers to effectively ramp-up sales and marketing efforts with passionate online consumers. “With DigitaLink, we identified five distinct groups of Internet users, all of whom are active online in one way or another, but access the Web in different ways, have different comfort levels with technology and various attitudes about how much they want to engage with it and the role they want the technology to play in their lives,” said Larry Levin, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Insights, SymphonyIRI. “Digging a level deeper, DigitaLink helps assess purchase patterns for each segment while also providing a tool that can be used to classify these shoppers.” Two of these five shopper segments, “Show Me the Money” and “Digitize Me!” are most likely to search online for information about a variety of CPG categories in addition to spending a higher percentage of their money online overall, providing the best short-term opportunities for manufacturers and retailers seeking to expand their online activities. * Show Me the Money – These shoppers focus on using digital technology to save money by frequently searching for and downloading coupons online. They may occasionally write product reviews or post comments on blogs. * Digitize Me! – These shoppers have incorporated digital media across the board in their lives and participate in various online activities. They have a higher tendency of interacting with companies and brands on social networks and are also more willing to post their opinions online. The following three segments, “Technophobes,” “Socializers” and “Wired for Work” make up 65 percent of the online population and don’t appear to provide as much near-term potential for marketing activity based on their attitudes and digital consumption behaviors. * Technophobes – This group rarely searches online for product information or coupons, or interacts on blogs, leaving most online activity to e-mail. * Socializers – Socializers use the Internet primarily as a means of communication versus a shopping resource. * Wired for Work – Most consumers who fall in this segment own a smartphone and are driven by digital media, but use the technology primarily for work-related tasks. The DigitaLink segmentation survey was completed in October 2011 through SymphonyIRI’s Consumer Network Panel of 100,000 households. A more specific survey of 47,000 households was also completed to provide more detailed segmentation analysis. DigitaLink Segmentation Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a webinar, entitled “Understanding and Engaging the Digital Shopper,” that will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. CST and will highlight which consumers represent the greatest opportunity for online engagement and the best way to connect with them in the digital space. Based on findings from SymphonyIRI's DigitaLink Segmentation Study, this webinar will introduce five unique segments of the market that exhibit different attitudes about and usage of digital devices and media. Case studies will also be used to explore how marketers can develop effective marketing activation programs for key target groups. To register for the webinar, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/UnderstandingAndEngagingTheDigitalShopper/tabid/281/Default.aspx About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit: http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: John.Mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: Shelley.Hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 1/27/2011

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:41:01 -0600

Dollar Stores Keep Growing, But Prices May Not Be Main Driver Wegmans, Whole Foods, Publix Make Annual List Of Best Workplaces Walmart Makes Major Executive Changes, Names 1st Woman To Run Sam’s Trader Joe’s Looks To Mile-High State Bottom Dollar Schedules 14 Pittsburgh Openings Office Depot To Test PayPal’s New In-Store System Sansolo Speaks: Life’s a Niche Hy-Vee Launches New Smartphone App Kroger Expands Pet Prescription Business Supervalu Gets New Chief Marketing Officer FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

In the News: Shoppers More Optimistic About Economy, But Still Buying on Deal

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:51:40 -0600

Americans showed a more optimistic outlook about the economy during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a report based on the latest MarketPulse survey from Chicago-based SymphonyIRI Group.

In the News: Rich Shoppers Are as Bargain-Hungry as Less Affluent

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:51:40 -0600

When it comes to shopping, the wealthy are just as interested in clipping coupons, hunting down deals, and keeping spending in check with shopping lists as less affluent consumers, according to the findings of a recent survey by SymphonyIRI.

In the News: SymphonyIRI: Shoppers optimistic yet frugal

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:51:40 -0600

Latest findings of fourth quarter 2011 MarketPulse survey revealed

Customer Success Story: Targeted Digital Strategy Delivers Strong, Measurable Results

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:55:37 -0600

The Challenge A leading global food company, among the top 10 by revenue worldwide, marketed more than 500 products across 20 categories. The company enjoyed a successful track record and reputation as a digital advertising innovator. Despite the brand awareness, favorability and purchase intent these efforts generated, the company was not convinced digital advertising was positively impacting sales. As a result, managers scaled back targeted digital advertising dollars across key brands and focused instead on a broader, more general audience advertising. Management retained SymphonyIRI to analyze in-depth their key brands’ digital advertising strategy and to recommend new approaches likely to directly increase sales. The SymphonyIRI Approach SymphonyIRI’s New Media Solutions (NMS) team recommended pursuing a purchase-based targeting strategy–in other words, targeting shoppers based on past purchase patterns. The NMS team also proposed completing a post-campaign ROI study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new digital strategy within high-engagement zones, such as cooking and travel sites, where consumers tend to interact most with the brands. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that focusing on households with a higher propensity to purchase expands the media audience, is more efficient and delivers higher dollar sales versus not conducting digital advertising. SymphonyIRI drew household panel purchase information for the key brands, directly competitive products and products with similar properties. Graph The Results Targeting based on purchase behavior allowed managers to expand the reach potential of what they previously believed was a small shopper universe. Managers also gained the ability to compare incremental revenue generated from leveraging high-engagement site pages relevant to each viewer’s experience. SymphonyIRI’s post-campaign analysis revealed significant sales increases within households exposed to digital advertising versus those that were not. More specifcally, they found: * A 30% increase in the average amount of dollars spent per household exposed to the campaign * A 30% increase in occasions among households exposed to the campaign * A 6% increase in household penetration * An ROI greater than $1.00 The Benefits SymphonyIRI’s analysis of the purchase-based targeting strategy revealed a direct link between digital advertising spend and sales. If the company had not conducted the campaign and analysis, managers would have missed a significant opportunity for sales uplift. This discovery convinced managers to maintain investment in digital media and they are now also considering additional campaigns and ROI studies across other categories to determine digital advertising benchmarks specific to other brands.

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Group partners with mySupermarket to deliver a new generation of real-time Shopper Insights to the UK FMCG industry

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:54:49 -0600

Bracknell, UK, 25 January 2012 – A new partnership between SymphonyIRI Group, a global leader in Fast Moving Consumer Goods insight, analytics and technology and mySupermarket, the UK’s only independent online grocery shopping site with 2 million unique users, will provide the first detailed multi channel view of shoppers’ behaviour in the UK - both online and in store. The service will provide unprecedented insight into the most developed online grocery market in the world which is currently worth £6 billion and growing at over 20% a year. It will provide a unique and granular view into how hundreds of thousands of shoppers are using mySupermarket to make better informed choices in the face of continued financial pressure. “The last 5 years has seen phenomenal growth in the demand for Shopper Insight. The need to understand why shoppers buy and just as important, why they don’t buy, is crucial” said Dan Finke, Managing Director of SymphonyIRI Group UK. “Against this backdrop, SymphonyIRI and mySupermarket have formed this partnership to create unique insights on a scale and to a depth previously unavailable to the industry. Whether buying online or optimising their shopping list prior to travelling to stores, these insights will enable our clients to understand how shoppers navigate through product, pricing and promotional choices before ultimately reaching a purchase decision”. James Foord mySupermarket’s VP of Business Development added: “This relationship bridges the most significant gap in shopper insight – total shopper understanding. The UK has the biggest online grocery shopping market in the world, and it’s still growing, yet manufacturers are virtually in the dark as to how they create the right multi-channel marketing strategy. For the first time they can have access to real time shopper behaviour at the point of sale across multiple retailers - for all their products. Just understanding what makes their customers switch brands is ground breaking for them and this is only part of the potential opportunity.” A wide range of services will be available as a result of the partnership, from the optimisation of price, promotion and assortment through to the real time evaluation of new product introductions and media impacts. Nigel Howlett, SymphonyIRI’s International President, who brokered the partnership agreement with Allon Bloch, CEO of mySupermarket says, “Being able to understand millions of shoppers’ choices in the context of the total basket of goods they purchase as well as their behavioural and geo demographic characteristics, brings a powerful new tool with which to formulate and execute more effective marketing mix and shopper engagement strategies. This unique combination of granularity and actionable segmentation also marks an important innovation for those clients looking to accelerate the performance of their CRM and Loyalty Marketing investments. The ability to understand shopper behaviour and then test findings, analytical models or new executions in a controlled, highly measurable and real time environment, heralds a new era of marketing precision”. Allon Bloch added, “We know first-hand that the FMCG industry has felt at a real disadvantage by not having access to the granular shopper data they need to compete effectively in this multi-channel environment. We are delighted to be able to combine our unique shopper insight with the existing services of SymphonyIRI, to bring clients something truly game changing to the retail landscape.” ENDS. Notes to Editors: Facts about FMCG: + By next year the value of the online grocery market will be close to £7billion but this is expected to be over £11 billion by 2016, according to IGD + Total UK grocery supermarket sales value £108.8bn (Sept 2011) SymphonyIRI Group + Over 3.5 million shoppers visited the mySupermarket site over Christmas + IGD’s Online Grocery Retailing Outlook Survey (Sept 2011) highlights that half of FMCG brands put “visibility of online shopping behaviour” as the most challenging aspect of their relationship with the retailers when trading online. About SymphonyIRI Group SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc (“IRI”) is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: core solutions for market measurement and Symphony AdvantageTM solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organisation. About mySupermarket mySupermarket is the only independent grocery, wine, health and beauty shopping and comparison website in the UK. The site allows users to shop and compare products and prices across Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Superdrug, Waitrose, Ocado, Majestic and Virgin Wine online stores. It is are a ‘one stop shop’ for every single product available at the country’s leading online supermarkets. This has enabled mySupermarket to build up a unique, unrivalled database of real-time online shopper behaviour, both at product and retailer level. At mySupermarket brands can truly understand the online shopper, their interaction with products and response to price and promotional activity, all within a transparent, uniquely competitive environment. https://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif For further information please contact: Teresa Horscroft Eureka Communications Tel: +44 1420 564346 Mobile: +44 7990 520390 Email: teresa@eurekacomms.co.uk Twitter : @teresahorscroft Or Jeanette Field UK Marketing Manager at Symphony IRI Group Tel : +44 (0)1344 746184 Mobile : +44 (0)7748 770 636 Email: jeanette.field@SymphonyIRI.com Twitter : @SymphIRI_INTL Twitter : @mySupermarket www.symphonyiri.co.uk www.mysupermarket.co.uk

Times & Trends: Merchandising Trends Webinar

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:04:25 -0600

TIMES & TRENDS: MERCHANDISING TRENDS Driving Consumption through Shopper Marketing In today’s world of ongoing economic trouble and conservative purchase behaviors, the value proposition is playing a central role in the enhanced shopping experience. Merchandising is acting as a platform for communicating that value to the consumer, due in large part to the fact that many consumers are looking to CPG marketers to help them live well while staying within their budgets. Are you fully leveraging merchandising as a tool for educating and informing the shopper of your unique value proposition? Based upon SymphonyIRI’s latest Times & Trends report, this webinar explores current and emerging merchandising trends that CPG marketers have embraced during the past few years in an effort to satisfy consumers’ rapidly changing definition of value. Consumers’ focus on maximizing the return on their CPG investment provides significant opportunity for CPG marketers. Effective merchandising will go a long way to helping marketers capitalize on that opportunity. * Understand how consumers are scrutinizing grocery circulars, free-standing-inserts, coupons, and in-store offers to find opportunities to save money on needed products. * Answer consumers’ quickly changing behaviors with effective and flexible merchandising programs. * Gain insights into new marketing vehicles/tactics, and consumer response to these new tools versus traditional techniques. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Date: Wednesday, February 15th Time: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. CT; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET

Times & Trends - Merchandising Trends: Driving Consumption through Shopper Marketing

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:25:10 -0600

Before The Great Recession began, clean-floor policies played a prominent role in retailer efforts to enhance the shopping experience. The result was broader aisles, brighter lighting, and less promotional displays “cluttering” the aisles. When the downturn came, then evolved into a full-blown recession, retailers began to rethink their clean-floor policies and ratcheted up merchandising efforts in the name of emphasizing their value proposition. In today’s world of ongoing economic trouble and conservative purchase behaviors, it is the value proposition that is playing a central role in the enhanced shopping experience. Merchandising is acting as a platform for communicating that value to the consumer. Establishing and maintaining effective merchandising programs, however, is a daunting task. The economy is changing quickly, as are consumer behaviors. And, merchandising technology is changing, too. One thing is for sure: To address the constant evolution of the economy and consumers, as well as technological advances, successful marketing programs of the future will be flexible and dynamic, measured and monitored from a variety of viewpoints to enable real-time adjustments that will keep them in synch with the changing CPG marketplace. This issue of Times & Trends explores current and emerging merchandising trends that CPG marketers have embraced during the past few years in an effort to satisfy consumers’ rapidly changing definition of value.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 1/20/2011

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:32:57 -0600

NRF Forecasts Retail Industry Sales Growth of 3.4 Percent in 2012 Lynch Stepping Down As Winn-Dixie CEO Target To Focus On Competing With Online Retailers In 2012 Marketing To A Food Stamp Environment Sansolo Speaks: Who You Calling Old? Starbucks Pre-Paid Card Generating More Than A Quarter Of Its U.S. Revenue Walgreen’s In-Store Health Clinics To Allow People To Make Appointments Dollar Stores Keep Growing, But Prices May Not Be Main Driver Wegmans, Whole Foods, Publix Make Annual List Of Best Workplaces FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

In the News: ‘Downturn Shoppers’ Look to Digital for Savings

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:16:40 -0600

Price-conscious consumers do more online research, download coupons and compare prices in-store via smartphones

Blog: A Deeper Dive on EconoLink – Q&A with Larry Levin

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:49:17 -0600

At the end of 2011, we shared findings from our new segmentation solution for CPG and retailer marketers, EconoLink™. EconoLink categorizes shoppers into six unique segments based on their outlook, behavior and personal financial attitudes. In the December 2011 webinar, we presented detailed insights on how different shopper segments are thinking about and planning their purchase decisions, and how marketers, in turn, must understand which shopper segments are buying their products, and how their core segments behave during challenging economic times. There was a lot of interest in this topic, and we want to address some of these questions. The video below features Larry Levin, executive vice president and general manager of Consumer Insights, who addresses the following topics, related to EconoLink: * The dynamic that seems to exist where “Savvy Shoppers” make the most money, but also buy most on deal * Why the “Downtrodden” and “Cautious and Worried” segments are spending more on deal * Aisles the “Downtrodden” are avoiding * Recommendations for retailers and manufacturers * 2012 trends

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Announces New Board of Directors

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:57:38 -0600

CHICAGO, Jan. 19, 2012 – SymphonyIRI Group, a global leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and healthcare companies, announced today its new board of directors. “This new board brings unparalleled experience and expertise in the consumer packaged goods, retail and technology industries,” said John G. Freeland, president and chief executive officer, SymphonyIRI. “They offer a depth of understanding and rich knowledge about our industry, our clients and our technology that will significantly accelerate our innovation and growth initiatives.” Lawrence Benjamin has been named chairman of the board of directors. Benjamin has more than 25 years of experience leading food companies in the retail, consumer packaged goods and foodservice industries. Most recently, he held several executive positions at Royal Ahold, including chief executive officer of U.S. Foodservice, chief operating officer of Ahold's U.S. retail businesses, executive vice president of Royal Ahold and member of the company's global board. Previously, he was the chief executive officer of The NutraSweet Company, Specialty Foods, and Stella Foods and president of the frozen meals division of Kraft. Benjamin is currently a senior advisor at New Mountain Capital. Joining Benjamin and Freeland on the board of directors are: * Jeffrey P. Ansell, president and chief executive officer of Sun Products Corp. Previously, Ansell was chief executive officer of Pinnacle Foods and spent 25 years with Procter & Gamble, most recently as president of the Iams Pet Care subsidiary. * Raj Gupta, senior advisor, New Mountain Capital. Prior to New Mountain Capital, Gupta was chairman and chief executive officer of Rohm and Haas. * Lawrence Jackson, senior advisor, New Mountain Capital. Jackson has more than 30 years of experience with several leading consumer products and retail companies, including president and chief executive officer of Global Procurement at Walmart, president and chief operating officer of Dollar General and executive positions at Safeway and PepsiCo. * Don W. McGeorge, retired president and chief operating officer, Kroger Co. McGeorge was responsible for Kroger’s supermarket divisions, including advertising, manufacturing, merchandising, procurement, pharmacy and retail operations. * Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Symphony Technology Group. The previous chairman of SymphonyIRI, Dr. Wadhwani leads a strategic private equity firm that helps to build great companies in the software and services sector by creating value through growth-oriented transformation. * Steven Klinsky, managing director, founder, and chief executive officer, New Mountain Capital. Prior to founding New Mountain Capital, Klinsky was a co-founder of Goldman Sachs’s Leverage Buyout Group and a partner at Forstmann Little. * Mathew J. Lori, managing director, New Mountain Capital. Prior to joining New Mountain, Lori was a managing director of CCMP Capital Advisors and its predecessor firm, J.P. Morgan Partners. * Matt Ebbel, director, New Mountain Capital. Before his current position, Ebbel worked in the corporate finance and strategy group at McKinsey & Co. New Mountain Capital LLC, a New York-based private equity firm that currently manages private and public equity investments totaling approximately $9 billion, became the majority shareholder of SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. on June 1, 2011. The firm seeks out what it believes to be the highest-quality “defensive growth” leaders in carefully selected industry sectors and then works intensively with management to build the value of these companies. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit: http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Webinar: Understanding And Engaging The Digital Shopper

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:41:25 -0600

Manufacturers and retailers are still struggling to accurately understand and leverage shoppers’ increasing use of smart phones, social networking and the Internet as they plan and execute shopping trips. Meanwhile, shoppers continue to adjust their strategies through the availability of quickly evolving digital devices and applications. To build brand and banner loyalty, manufacturers and retailers must have a near household level understanding of what is on shoppers’ minds as they prepare for their shopping trips and engage effectively with them online. Which consumers represent the greatest opportunity for online engagement and what is the best way to connect with them in the digital space? New technologies have emerged that can provide a valuable “window” into what shoppers are thinking and planning. Based on findings from SymphonyIRI's DigitaLink Segmentation Study, this webinar will introduce five unique segments of the market that exhibit different attitudes about and usage of digital devices and media. Using case studies, we will explore how marketers can develop effective marketing activation programs for key target groups. * Understand consumers’ differing attitudes toward digital devices and online media and how this affects their online engagement. * Analyze and target shoppers who represent the greatest opportunities for your brands and stores. * Implement meaningful digital marketing strategies that will win shoppers’ loyalty. Hosts: Carl Edstrom, Principal, Survey Solutions, and Paul Lainis, Executive, Consumer & Shopper Insights, SymphonyIRI Group Date: Tuesday, February 7th Time: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT; 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. CT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET

SymphonyIRI’s MarketPulse™ Survey

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:19:45 -0600

MarketPulse, which was launched in Q1 2011, is SymphonyIRI’s quarterly survey series, conducted to monitor and analyze shoppers’ attitudes and behaviors on the economy and economic effects on their personal financial conditions, lifestyle and shopping habits.

Blog: Shoppers Gain Confidence in Economy, but still Shop Conservatively

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:19:45 -0600

After two gloomy quarters, shopper outlook finally looks a little brighter. According to our MarketPulseTM survey results from Q4 2011, consumers have higher confidence in the economy’s upturn in the next six months. However, the conservative shopping strategies adopted to weather an economic downturn may have become habit. After analyzing a full year of MarketPulse data, we found consumers were more optimistic in Q4 over Q3, but in many ways were less optimistic than they were in Q1. We also found that financial optimism was rebounding in Q4, with 27 percent of consumers believing their personal financial conditions will be “a lot better” or “a little better” in the new year. The MarketPulse survey also found the following positive Q4 swings in consumer attitudes regarding the economy: * Ability to increase amount of personal savings (21%), versus Q3 (18%) * Rise in investment value (21%), versus Q3 (18%) * Earning credit to become easier (16%), versus Q3 (13%) Shoppers still love buying on deal, and this trend is expected to continue in 2012 even though 20 percent of surveyed shoppers expect improvements in the economy within the next six months. Compared to the beginning of 2011, shoppers of all income levels are relying more heavily on in-store circulars, coupons, newspaper circulars, and online ads to make deal-based purchase decisions. In addition to a press release that highlights MarketPulse survey results for Q4 2011, SymphonyIRI also just released a new Point of View, entitled “Rich with Opportunity,” which examines trends of wealthy consumers. Also available are a series of charts that highlight the top five consumer trends for 2011. All of the latest MarketPulse coverage can be found at: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/Publications/SymphonyIRIsMarketPulseSurvey/tabid/354/Default.aspx

Press Release: Shoppers Demonstrate Rays of Optimism Amid Continued Focus on Frugality, New SymphonyIRI MarketPulse™ Survey Reports

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:19:44 -0600

After a Significant Negative Shift during Q2 and Q3, Shopper Sentiment Turns More Positive in Q4 CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2012 – Shoppers became more optimistic in Q4 2011, with an increase among those believing the economy improved in the last six months of 2011 and will continue to strengthen during the first six months of 2012, reports SymphonyIRI Group’s latest MarketPulse™ survey, released today. However, the survey also underscored shoppers’ continued conservatism in spending practices and their focus on maintaining the frugal habits initiated during the recession. MarketPulse, which was launched in Q1 2011, is SymphonyIRI’s quarterly survey series, conducted to monitor and analyze shoppers’ attitudes and behaviors on the economy and economic effects on their personal financial conditions, lifestyle and shopping habits. Throughout 2011, MarketPulse-based analyses have provided insights into a range of perspectives and opportunities vis-à-vis the country’s prolonged economic difficulties, including chief shopping strategies embraced by the growing population of male shoppers, the rise of digital shopping and purchasing, behaviors adopted by consumers expecting more bad times ahead, and, released today, some fresh perspectives from a consumer group often overlooked in this penny-pinching era—wealthy consumers. These perspectives are published in a new SymphonyIRI Point of View, “Rich with Opportunity.” “Through quarterly analysis of a full year of MarketPulse data, we discovered that shoppers were more optimistic in Q4 over Q3, but in many ways less optimistic than they were in Q1,” said Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Still, the vast majority of shoppers made clear in Q4 that they have no plans to change their conservative shopping behaviors in the near future. As a result, the influence of both traditional and new media on shopper decisions continues to grow.” Financial Optimism Rebounds in Q4 In Q4, 20 percent of surveyed shoppers stated they expect the economy to improve during the next six months, a jump of 4 percentage points over Q3, but still well below expectations expressed in the first quarter of 2011. Shoppers communicated similar beliefs about their anticipated personal financial conditions in the coming year. Those believing their personal financial condition will be “a lot better” or “a little better” totaled 27 percent in Q4, once again reflecting an improvement versus the prior quarter, but not quite returning to the optimism reflected in first quarter results. As illustrated in SymphonyIRI’s new “Rich with Opportunity” Point of View, wealthier consumers hold expectations for even brighter days in the future: 32 percent of consumers in this segment feel that their personal financial position will become stronger in the coming year. Shopper Expectations Mixed for 2012 Despite shoppers’ more optimistic view of the economy and their personal financial conditions, expectations about other life conditions are decidedly a mixed bag for the next 12 months. Feelings around job stability have remained fairly unchanged throughout 2011, with 16 percent of consumers expecting improvement in the coming year. But, persistent pessimism is revealed in the growing ranks of those expecting deterioration of job stability. In the Q4 MarketPulse survey, 18 percent of consumers indicated expectations for diminishing job security in the coming year, versus 16 percent in the Q1 survey. While expectations for the overall cost of living are not quite as rosy as they were in Q1 2011, some measures are showing a slight improvement since the third quarter of the year. For instance, 21 percent noted in the Q4 survey the amount they will be able to put into their personal savings for the next year will improve, versus 18 percent in Q3. Twenty-one percent expect the value of their investments to rise in Q4, versus 18 percent in Q3. And, 16 percent expect their ability to get credit to become easier, versus 13 percent in the prior quarter. On the positive side, slightly fewer consumers in Q4 anticipate these areas will continue to deteriorate in the coming year versus Q3 expectations. In the most recent quarter, 16 percent expect their ability to save will deteriorate “greatly,” and 11 percent of consumers stated that they expect their home real estate value to fall “greatly,” versus 17 percent and 14 percent, respectively, in Q3 2011. Conservatism Still Dominates Shopping Strategies A cornerstone to shoppers’ conservative behavior continues to be the deal. One-third of consumers purchased 50 percent or more of their baskets on deal in Q4. This trend holds true across income segments, including among the country’s wealthiest shoppers (those earning more than $100,000 annually), among whom 35 percent purchase at least 50 percent of their baskets on deal. Additionally, deal-seeking behavior is on the rise, another trend that is evidenced across income segments. Twenty-six percent of shoppers are buying more on deal today versus one year ago. Even among wealthier shoppers, 20 percent purchased more goods on deal versus one year ago. Shoppers increasingly made brand decisions based on a wide range of traditional and new media influences throughout 2011. Among traditional media, use of in-store circulars increased 8 percentage points during the year and were cited as a heavy influencer of brand decisions for 44 percent of respondents in Q4. Coupons also gained steam, influencing brand choice for 55 percent of consumers in Q4 versus 48 percent in Q1. Use of newspaper circulars from home grew 6 points, from 43 percent in Q1 to 49 percent in Q4. Influence of new media is currently below that of the more traditional forms of communication and promotion, but these new means of reaching shoppers are growing quickly. For example, online advertising influence grew by 3 percentage points to 11 percent in just one quarter (Q3 vs. Q4). Recommendations from blogs or social networking sites also increased 3 points, from 5 percent to 8 percent during the year, as well. Point of View To download the free Point of View, “Rich with Opportunity: Wealthier Consumers Deliver Prospect for Sales Growth and Market Expansion,” by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/tabid/354/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI’s MarketPulse Survey SymphonyIRI provides new survey results at the end of each calendar quarter, covering shoppers’ behaviors and attitudes as it directly relates to their strategies for learning about, purchasing and utilizing CPG and healthcare products, as well as information regarding perceptions of economic conditions and the ability to provide for their families. For more information about customizing the research for a particular category or industry, please contact SymphonyIRIMarketing@SymphonyIRI.com. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit: http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 1/13/2011

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:49:40 -0600

Wegmans Extends Winter Price Freeze Sansolo Speaks: When the World is Watching Instore Health Clinics Grew In Number During 2011 Publix To Open Two Stores In Charlotte, NC Market Garden State Tries To Pry FreshDirect Out Of New York Kroger Goes Back To School With Robotic Vending Machine FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 1/6/2011

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:50:31 -0600

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 12/30/2011

Speaking Event: Shopper Insights in Action

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 12:14:46 -0600

Shopper Insights in Action July 18 – 20, 2012 Location: Marriott Magnificent Mile - Chicago, IL Description: SIA focuses on the business value of activating shopper research. SymphonyIRI Speaker: Louis-Michel Barbotin, President of Global Shopper Insights Learn More: http://www.iirusa.com

Blog: How to Keep Kids (and Your Brand) Healthy

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 10:25:01 -0600

Pending legislation may restrict the types of food that can be marketed to children. Supporters of the proposed guidelines seek to alleviate an all-time high level of childhood obesity, but others fear the policy will eliminate too many jobs. It may be awhile before a decision is reached due to the requirement of a cost-benefit analysis. The cause-effect relationship between advertising and childhood obesity is also being debated. Nevertheless, children’s health is a prime concern. In the meantime, how can the CPG industry show support for minimizing the obesity crisis while upholding their brands? Over the past few years, some manufacturers have voluntarily altered their product’s ingredient composition. For example, General Mills vowed to lower sugar levels in all cereals marketed to children, which now contain 10 grams of sugar or less per serving. The company also increased the use of whole grain in kid-friendly Big G cereals. Other retailers and manufacturers are supporting healthier options in schools, as the nutrition of cafeteria food has long been scrutinized. Produce providers Dole, Chiquita, and Sun World have recently donated salad bars to schools to offer children fresher alternatives to standard cafeteria menus. Whole Foods Markets (a sponsor of the Let’s Move Salad Bars 2 Schools initiative) and Publix have also made donations, in hopes that children’s act of choosing from an assortment will turn fruit and vegetable consumption into a habit. Dole’s Nutrition Institute even created a school curriculum, including lesson plans, music, games and activity books focused on forming healthy eating habits. Other possible strategies manufacturers can employ to support children’s healthy eating may include: * Introducing healthier, kid-friendly brand extensions (Sara Lee disguised whole grains in whole wheat white bread) * Reducing size and calorie count of lunchbox-friendly packs (Nabisco introduced 100 calorie packs for portion control) * Increasing marketing efforts to promote existing healthy product lines to children (Last year, farmers borrowed the traditional junk food marketing approach to brand baby carrots as “the original orange doodle”) What are some strategies your brand is using to combat childhood obesity?

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 12/30/2011

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 10:13:07 -0600

Whole Foods’ Mackey: On Surviving The Recession And Income Inequality Costco’s Old And New CEO On The Present And The Future Bi-Lo To Acquire Winn-Dixie And Take It Private For $560 Million Sansolo Speaks: Back to Basics Dollar Stores Said To Be Having A Green Christmas FastNewsBeat Executive Suite

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 12/16/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:50:14 -0600

CVS Goes The Self-Checkout Route Sansolo Speaks: Mislabeled, Misunderstood and Mismanaged Supermarkets Go All-Out For Dining In Price Chopper Makes Changes At The Top Ric Jurgens To Retire As Hy-Vee CEO NRF Forecasts 3.8 Percent Increase In Holiday Sales The Humanity Of Great Retail Making The Healthy Choice The Easy - And Profitable - Choice McDonald’s To Highlight Suppliers In New Ads FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

GMA Executive Conference August 25 - 28, 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:09:56 -0600

For more than 100 years, the GMA Executive Conference has brought senior leaders from food, beverage and consumer product retailers and manufacturers together in the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie.

NACDS Marketplace June 23 - 26, 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:09:56 -0600

The NACDS Marketplace offers the industry leaders from Drug, Food, Mass and Specialty Retail an unparalleled opportunity to do business. Be sure to visit SymphonyIRI in the exhibit hall!

FMI 2012 April 30 - May 3, 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:09:55 -0600

Understand your customers in-depth at FMI2012, the big event that brings together the industry’s leading thinkers and decision-makers for three intensive days of learning, networking, and discovering new ways to build business and boost the bottom line.

NACDS Annual Meeting April 21 - 24, 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:09:55 -0600

NACDS brings together high-caliber industry leaders and decision-makers from the retail drug store industry.

FMI Midwinter Executive Conference January 29 - 31, 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:09:55 -0600

The Midwinter Executive Conference is the premier annual senior executive leadership forum for companies of all sizes operating in the dynamic retail food and consumer goods industry.

Webinar Replay: The CPG Basket: Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:01:32 -0600

TIMES & TRENDS: THE CPG BASKET Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation It is a time of conservation. Consumers have weathered The Great Recession and many months of adverse economic conditions by embracing frugal and well-thought-out purchase strategies. They are expected to remain firmly entrenched in efforts to stretch their budgets to the maximum for the foreseeable future. CPG marketers must stay on top of their game, too, and they must continue to build and fortify relationships with consumers—relationships that will not only help to build the bottom line today, but also serve to put their companies in a favorable position to compete even long after the economy has recovered. Are you employing the right strategies to enhance your value proposition and to attract and retain shoppers? This webinar provides insight into consumer response to evolving economic conditions vis-à-vis their mindset during the four predominant CPG trip missions. An intimate understanding of current and emerging trends within these trip missions will empower manufacturers and retailers to develop and execute strategies that align with overall corporate goals while simultaneously addressing the complex and changing needs of U.S. shoppers in a turbulent economic environment. Understand the consumer’s mindset at the time she is planning and making her CPG purchases. Analyze changes in trip missions by share, channel, category, income segment, and other key demographics. Answer the call for low-cost, high-value solutions to consumers’ grocery needs, and communicate those efforts in a targeted and highly relevant manner. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Duration: 35 minutes

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Report Examines Shopping Trip Mission Trends

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:42:42 -0600

Times & Trends Report Finds Pantry Stock-Up and Quick Trips Account for Two-Thirds of CPG Trips and Dollar Sales CHICAGO, Dec. 14, 2011 – It has long been a daunting task to stay in lock step with the shopper mindset. After all, mindsets are a moving target and can quickly change due to a variety of reasons, including purchase needs and time considerations. These considerations dictate the type of trip, or trip mission, which permeates every aspect of the shopping trip from beginning to end. In its latest Times & Trends report, “The CPG Basket: Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation,” SymphonyIRI examines the current and emerging trends of the four predominant trip missions—quick trip, special purpose, fill-in and pantry stock-up—that CPG marketers can leverage to provide the low-cost, high-value solutions needed by today’s cash-strapped consumers. Average basket ring across and within trip missions has been a moving target during the course of the past two years and is being influenced by changing consumer rituals and vacillating pricing trends. Quick trip and special purpose basket size grew only slightly, while pantry stock-up baskets and fill-in baskets began declining in 2009 and eventually began increasing in early 2011. Baskets within these missions have been growing at an increasing rate in 2011; however, the rate of increase remains below the level of inflation and reflects extremely conservative shopping behaviors. “For CPG marketers, the difficulty is that no ‘one size fits all’ budgetary ritual exists,” says Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Rather, strategies vary by channel, category, brand, market and even at the household level. Shoppers are no longer strolling aisles making casual, spontaneous purchases. Quick trip missions are more prevalent across a majority of channels and income segments. And, when shoppers do stock their pantries, it is a premeditated shopping trip with lists in hand.” Within grocery, mass/supercenter and club channels, the predominant trip mission is the pantry stock-up mission, which accounts for one-half of sales in grocery and one-third of sales in both mass/supercenter and club channels. In all of these channels, pantry stock-ups account for 15-20 percent of trips. Pantry stock-up missions took a hit during the economic downturn and have been replaced by more quick trips and, to a lesser degree, fill-in trips. Quick trips are a strength of the drug and dollar channels and are driven by “need it now” purchases. Their nearby locales make it convenient to swing by for a few quick items without a significant time or gas outlay. Retailers in both of these channels are shifting their models to capture an increasing share of consumer spending. For instance, Dollar General has been focused on updating the assortment and layout of Dollar General Market, a hybrid grocery/dollar store format that contains limited perishables and a value-focused grocery selection. Meanwhile, CVS and Walgreens are adjusting their drug store formats to include more consumables, particularly in urban areas of the country. “Non-essential spending has been placed by the wayside in favor of controlled spending,” said John McIndoe, senior vice president, Marketing, SymphonyIRI. “Clearly, value is the carrot for today’s shopper. And, with the rocky road to recovery spreading into the horizon, value will remain at the core of consumer shopping strategies for months to come. Retailers and manufacturers who can be flexible and nimble in light of these shifting strategies are those who can best succeed in winning not only consumer loyalty, but also share of the basket.” Retailers and manufacturers seeking to maximize opportunity within the new, emerging retail environment should consider the following actions items: Step up frequency and granularity of consumer and market assessments: Manufacturers should analyze share shifts on a monthly basis to identify emerging opportunities; retailers should assess purchase dynamics across key product categories to determine resulting pricing, promotion and merchandising implications Align strategies with shifting shopping patterns: Manufacturers should collaborate with key retail partners to understand retailers’ trip mission strategies and ensure assortment reflects dominant purchase patterns; retailers should clearly communicate trip mission strategy to key manufacturer partners and ensure assortment reflects dominant purchase patterns Measure and monitor success: Manufacturers should monitor brand contribution in retail partners’ attainment of plan goals, including trip mix and basket growth, as well as category and brand share; retailers should track share shifts across trip mission types at the store level at multiple points throughout the year and before/after major changes in advertising, pricing and promotion SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “CPG Basket: Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation at 12 p.m. CT on Dec. 15. To register for the webinar, hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/tabid/89/ctl/Details/mid/539/ItemID/1387/Default.aspx. About the Report This month’s Times & Trends Report, “CPG Basket: Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation,” is a free report available from SymphonyIRI, the world’s leading innovation partner that enables CPG, retail and healthcare companies to create and maximize new opportunities. The findings of this report were compiled based on information from SymphonyIRI AttitudeLink™, SymphonyIRI ShopperSights™, SymphonyIRI Consumer Network™ and SymphonyIRI Shopper Insights Advantage™. To download the report, visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/ArticleDetail/tabid/117/ItemID/1390/View/Details/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contact: Shelley Hughes E-mail: Shelley.Hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 12/9/2011

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:16:42 -0600

Roundy’s To Raise $230 Million Through IPO Walmart Prepares For The Next War Sansolo Speaks: Fighting For The Future Wegmans Announces Third Boston-Area Location Kroger Rated At Top Of Charitable Giving List For One Retailer, Mobile Payments Get Real Traction New Payment System Designed To Sidestep Credit Card Transaction Fees The MNB Wal-Mart Watch FastNewsBeat Executive Suite

Times and Trends: The CPG Basket - Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:05:12 -0600

The face of the American shopper has changed significantly during the past few years and most in the industry know the “one-size-fits-all” approach to marketing is no longer applicable. We’ve found via the new SymphonyIRI EconoLinkTM segmentation that the American shopper has many faces, from the “Downtrodden” shopper, who is highly pessimistic about their financial situation, to the “Optimistic” shopper who, feels their financial situation is better than it was a year ago and, of course, the shopper many have come to be familiar with, the “Savvy” shopper, who believes their financial situation hasn’t changed much during the past year and enjoys seeking deals. There is much to be said about these varying degrees of shopper attitudes. Regardless of consumer segmentation “buckets,” one thing is clear: overall, today’s shoppers are holding tight to their purse strings. The National Retail Federation just reported that Americans said they spent $7.4 billion more between Thursday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend 2011, compared with the same period in 2010. Still, it’s important to note the deliberate spending patterns shoppers set leading into this holiday spending spree. Bluntly speaking, a surge in spending doesn’t necessarily indicate looser wallets for the future. In fact, this spring towards the “black” may indicate a more challenging future for CPG marketers who will have to wean shoppers off the bargain basement prices and back to more realistic everyday pricing. Gone are the days when shoppers simply stroll the aisles of CPG retail stores making casual, spontaneous purchases. “Quick trip missions” are more prevalent across a majority of channels and income segments than they were just a few years ago, reflective of consumers’ “point of consumption” purchase habits. And, when shoppers do stock their pantries, it is a pre-meditated shopping trip with lists in hand. “Non-essential” spending has been placed by the wayside in favor of controlled spending, but as seen with the recent “Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday” spending spike, today’s shoppers can be nudged to spend. Value is the carrot for today’s shoppers. And, with a rocky road to recovery spreading into the horizon, value will remain at the core of consumers’ shopping strategies in the months to come. Strategies aimed at achieving maximum value will evolve as the economy morphs. Retailers and manufacturers who can be flexible and nimble in light of these shifting strategies are those who can best succeed in winning not only consumer loyalty, but also share of the basket. As the year draws to a close we’ll continue to keep an eye on the evolving shopper landscape and provide insights to help navigate to what will hopefully be a successful 2012.

Blog: Eat This or Die

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:45:03 -0600

Coffee, wine, beer and chocolate have long been considered vices, but recent studies reveal their health benefits: Coffee cuts skin cancer risk and lowers women’s depression; beer can help women protect against osteoporosis; and red wine and cocoa antioxidants could boost metabolism and benefit the heart, respectively. Even so, consumers should have enough sense to not overindulge in traditionally unhealthy products. But, how do they react when a study reports health claims of nutrients without an existing bias? The overly-trusting consumer may run out to buy every product with ginger in the ingredient list after reading that it reduces colon inflammation and cancer risk. Suddenly, CPG manufacturers of ginger-snaps have some decisions to make. Should they attempt to capitalize on these claims with front-of-packaging ingredient information? Packaging claims have been a hot issue lately, as two camps of thought sparked a great debate. The Grocery Manufacturers Association’s (GMA) “Facts Up Front” rivals the Institute of Medicine (IoM) over what should be included in front-of-package nutritional facts. IoM believes displaying calories and a simple star rating will sufficiently inform consumers of nutritional level, while the Facts Up Front Label will present calories, total fat, sodium, sugars, and two “nutrients to encourage” for the manufacturer to choose. These systems ultimately have the same goal: help consumers make healthier choices. But striking a balance between information overload and ease of use is key. Time Healthland featured a University of Minnesota study suggesting that people don’t actually look at the same nutrition information on food packages as they claim. Researchers used an eye-tracking device with a group of designated shoppers to reveal which components of nutrition labels participants paid attention. “Although 26% of people self-reported that they almost always look at Nutrition Facts labels at the grocery store, 37% of them actually noticed at least one component of the label for almost all food items,” according to the article. But, customers seem to be unaware of which components they actually noticed. There were large discrepancies between self-reports and eye-tracking data. While 33% said they looked at calorie count, only 9% actually did. In addition, 31% reported they paid attention to total fat content, 24% said they looked at sugar content, and 26% said they looked at serving size, when in reality, only 1% studied each of these components. It will be interesting to see if this data changes when front-of-package nutrition facts become more prominent, as they’re expected to do in 2012. Will consumers trust only a standardized system, such as Facts Up Front or IoM’s, or can CPG manufacturers continue to play up key healthy ingredients in a less structured manner? What’s your take?

Webinar Replay: Identifying And Activating Your Shopper In Challenging Economic Conditions

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:01:35 -0600

IDENTIFYING AND ACTIVATING YOUR SHOPPER IN CHALLENGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Two-Part Webinar Series Insights into the perceptions and attitudes that shape consumer shopping and purchase behavior are invaluable to marketers. It is this knowledge that provides a solid foundation for any shopper activation strategy. However, the impacts of the economy and the repercussions felt by those impacts are many and varied. To that end, shoppers have become even more sophisticated in terms of how they view value and more demanding in their expectations around CPG products and the marketing programs that support them. To give marketers a head start on strategies to optimize opportunities with this new shopper, SymphonyIRI offers a two-part webinar series entitled “Identifying and Activating Your Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions.” Webinar 2: Activating your Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions The second installment of this two-part webinar series demonstrates how retailers and manufacturers can design shopper, marketing, and retail activation strategies around a target group of shoppers. First, you will learn how to describe in very granular language the composition of your target group, utilizing six unique segments identified in SymphonyIRI’s recent EconoLink™ study. Then, you will discover how to develop effective marketing activation, including leveraging media and promotions which will resonate strongly with key segments. Finally, the session covers how to develop effective retail activation against key segments, including optimizing key geographic, banner and store opportunities. Several case studies will bring to life how these activation programs work in action. Host: Paul Lainis, Senior Vice President of Consumer & Shopper Insights Duration: 60 minutes

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 12/2/2011

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 12:07:13 -0600

Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping Shows Promise For Holiday Season Private Brand Growth Continues As Retailers Are Emboldened Sansolo Speaks: Black Birds and Fridays Retail Giants Push For Frustration-Free Packaging Consumer Confidence Rises. Really. Save-A-Lot Opens New N.C. Warehouse To Support Area Growth Surge In Credit Card Usage Could Presage Broader Trend Walmart Unveils Shopycat, New Social Media Application Walgreens Offers 300,000 Free Flu Shots Loblaws Takes To The Ice With New Toronto Store Bottom Dollar Good For Delhaize Bottom Line Mobile Commerce Gaining Momentum Supervalu Joins Better Buildings Challenge FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch

Blog: Let’s Talk More About Innovation

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 09:23:07 -0600

Thanks for the comments and viewpoints generated by my first post on innovation. While change comes in many forms, we’ve identified five types of change that we believe spark innovation more often than others. These include: Societal change – as cultural norms shift, shoppers’ needs also evolve, creating an outstanding innovation opportunity. The ongoing innovation in better-tasting and higher-quality prepared foods reflects the growing number of two-income households in America, for example. Mass movements – the widespread growth in consumer interest for a particular cause often drives new innovation. The explosion of sustainable products to combat global warming, burgeoning landfills and depleted oil stocks has sparked significant new innovation Economic conditions – As the recent recession brutally illustrates, economic conditions are a powerful driver of innovation. The continued and growing popularity of private label products is perhaps the strongest example of economics-driven innovation. Demographics – The ongoing shift in the age, ethnic composition, geographic location and work patterns of shoppers drives innovation. Consider cans with easy-to-open lids, catering to an older population more likely to suffer from arthritis. Scientific advances – Advances in technology enable new forms of innovation. Breakthroughs in packaging materials have given us microwavable trays and single material packaging. Often two or more of these conditions occur simultaneously to push innovation even faster. For example, mass interest in environmentally-benign packaging and scientific advances has resulted in the much wider availability of recycled boxes, cans, pouches and bottles. As you are thinking about innovation, I’ve observed several ingredients that are part of every innovative company: Ensure the R&D team is focusing efforts on fulfilling your organization’s long-term vision and mission, as well as its short-term tactical plans Confirm that your organizational structure supports and nourishes innovation by removing hierarchies wherever possible and encouraging direct communication among internal and external resources for everything from product ideation to packaging Develop cross-functional teams that include every discipline that will “touch” a new product Think big. Innovative companies are not built on line extensions I know many of you will have thoughts and I look forward to reading and sharing these.

Webinar: Times & Trends: The CPG Basket

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 12:49:36 -0600

TIMES & TRENDS: THE CPG BASKET Fostering Growth in a Time of Conservation It is a time of conservation. Consumers have weathered The Great Recession and many months of adverse economic conditions by embracing frugal and well-thought-out purchase strategies. They are expected to remain firmly entrenched in efforts to stretch their budgets to the maximum for the foreseeable future. CPG marketers must stay on top of their game, too, and they must continue to build and fortify relationships with consumers—relationships that will not only help to build the bottom line today, but also serve to put their companies in a favorable position to compete even long after the economy has recovered. Are you employing the right strategies to enhance your value proposition and to attract and retain shoppers? Based upon SymphonyIRI’s latest Times & Trends report, this webinar provides insight into consumer response to evolving economic conditions vis-à-vis their mindset during the four predominant CPG trip missions. An intimate understanding of current and emerging trends within these trip missions will empower manufacturers and retailers to develop and execute strategies that align with overall corporate goals while simultaneously addressing the complex and changing needs of U.S. shoppers in a turbulent economic environment. Understand the consumer’s mindset at the time she is planning and making her CPG purchases. Analyze changes in trip missions by share, channel, category, income segment, and other key demographics. Answer the call for low-cost, high-value solutions to consumers’ grocery needs, and communicate those efforts in a targeted and highly relevant manner. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Date: Thursday, December 15th Time: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. CT; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET

Webinar Replay: Identifying the Changing Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:53:53 -0600

Blog: So, your brand’s on Facebook. Now what?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:14:15 -0600

With the increasing presence of social media and online promotions, marketing budgets are seeing a transfer of funds from traditional to digital. However, it is important for these funds to be spent strategically. Analytics can now help measure the impact of online marketing efforts to ensure marketing dollars are not being wasted. Detailing this subject, our very own Phil Ripperger, vice president of New Media Solutions for SymphonyIRI, will be co-hosting “The Roadmap from Social Listening to Integrated Social Intelligence” webinar with Elizabeth Morgan, Visible Technology’s SVP of Business Development and Zach Hofer-Shall, Forrester Research analyst. Elizabeth Morgan notes, “With today’s social commerce boom it’s even more critical to help businesses monitor and analyze the success of their social media efforts. During the webinar, I’ll discuss how businesses can use social media in conjunction with CRM efforts to ultimately add to their bottom line.” As most companies which have employed social media strategies can attest, going beyond a collection of “likes” or followers is key, but can be complicated. A follower base is important, but how many actually act on their “like” and purchase your product? A high number of followers can reflect a positive brand perception, but for sales, the old adage “quality over quantity” rings true. To address this challenge, SymphonyIRI’s New Media Solutions group identifies select “high opportunity” customers and their profiles, so retailers and manufacturers can connect with them on a more personal level and activate a sale. This is done by engaging customers in one-on-one dialogue and tailoring content that speaks to shoppers’ specific strategies, behaviors and needs. Phil Ripperger adds, “SymphonyIRI works with media partners to build and optimize digital campaigns for CPG marketers. We then analyze data results from ‘test’ and ‘control’ groups to show the campaign’s impact on sales and its effect on competitors. The impact of buzz, whether positive or negative, can now be quantified, and used to measure campaign success or failure.” Please sign up to join us on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 12:30 a.m. CT for “The Roadmap from Social Listening to Integrated Social Intelligence” webinar.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 11/25/2011

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:46:02 -0600

Sansolo Speaks: Boldly Go…Everywhere Seattle Considering Ban On Plastic Bags, Fee For Paper Bags Texas Supermarket Chain Partners In Cancer Treatment, Prevention Effort Survey: Retailers With Best Customer Service FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

In the News: Top-line grocers seek bigger portion of Chicago-area food market

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:55:01 -0600

Upscale grocers are thriving as higher-income families return to old buying habits and the middle class splurges on premium produce, while grocery giants like Jewel and Dominick's have been closing some stores and feeling increasing pressure on margins

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 11/18/2011

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:37:36 -0600

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year? Really? First Global Food Safety Fund Is Created Sansolo Speaks: Management On The Fly Family Dollar Expanding In California As Part Of Broader Genre Push Black Friday? Gray Friday? Will It All Add Up To A Green Christmas? San Francisco Considers Shopping Bag Fee FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Media Alert: SymphonyIRI, Forrester and Visible Technologies Experts to Share Best Practices on Creating, Leveraging and Measuring One-to-One Social Media Dialogues

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:33:23 -0600

WHO: Phil Ripperger – Vice, President, New Media Solutions, SymphonyIRI Group Zach Hofer-Shall - Customer Intelligence Analyst, Forrester Research Elizabeth Morgan – Senior Vice President, Visible Technologies WHAT: Shoppers are turning increasingly to social media to research entire CPG shopping experiences, ranging from what products best fit their lifestyles and which brands and banners offer the best deals to which retailers provide the most convenient shopping venues. For CPG and retailer decision makers, social media has moved far beyond simply a medium to “listen to,” it’s a critical medium to master for communicating a brand or retailer’s value proposition. As social media has become increasingly important to the sales and marketing function, manufacturer and retailer financial teams have begun to demand more robust approaches for measuring success. They are eager to know answers to questions, such as if a campaign goes viral, does it actually generate sales uplift? Does it depress competitors’ sales? Does it positively impact offline activities? How does it compare to similar viral campaigns? WHY: During the Webinar, entitled “The Roadmap from Social Listening to Integrated Social Intelligence,” SymphonyIRI, Forrester and Visible Technologies experts will discuss strategies for segmenting digital consumers, so marketers can identify more high-opportunity shoppers. They will outline how to better leverage digital media in a more impactful way by replacing, for example, “push” messaging with one-to-one dialogue. They will review analysis of the relationship of a brand’s social media initiatives and resulting “buzz” with the in store sales impact. Several case studies will be presented illustrating the insights to be gained when applying traditional insights and analytics to social media. WHEN: Dec. 1, 2011, 12:30 p.m. CT WHERE: SymphonyIRI-Forrester Research-Visible Technologies Webinar To register for this free Webinar, please click here. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: John.McIndoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: Shelley.Hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Blog: EconoLink Gives Insights into Shopper Behaviors

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:55:29 -0600

Recently, there has been much speculation about what shoppers are doing to cope during today’s bleak economic situation: Where are shoppers cutting back? Are they using coupons more? Are they finding deals online or with smartphone apps? To succeed in today’s market manufacturer and retailer decision makers don’t have the luxury of trial and error. That said, we at SymphonyIRI are excited to offer a new segmentation solution to CPG and retailer marketers. EconoLink™, which we announced this week, profiles shoppers into six unique segments based on their outlook, behavior and personal financial attitudes. With EconoLink, marketers gain the ability to develop highly-refined product, packaging, pricing, merchandising and promotion, and assortment and layout strategies, targeted specifically at one or more of these profiles. To provide deep color and understanding around the dynamics of each of these segments, we classified more than 40,000 households on our panel. This gives our clients a very focused lens into the behavioral actions of U.S. shoppers and consumers and how they can be nimble and appeal to the needs of these unique populations. The resulting data revealed some surprises. Did you know that wealthier shoppers are among the most aggressive at “clipping” online coupons? Each EconoLink profile outlines the segment’s habits and strategies about: Information Search: Which shoppers find out about new products or promotions online, in-store, or from friends? Which research products before shopping? Trip Planning: Are more shoppers likely to make lists to avoid impulse buys? Where do they get information to develop these lists? Do they bring coupons with them to stores? Store Selection: Which shoppers are channel shifting to secure the lowest price? Do higher gas prices make store proximity a priority? In-Store Influences: How does store layout affect purchase decisions? Will shoppers even venture down tempting aisles? How do they respond to signs, displays and kiosks? Brand Choice: What role do merchandising and promotion play? Are shoppers maintaining brand loyalties because of trust and comfort with a brand? Are they willing to shop a different channel to find favorite brands? Are they more price sensitive? Are they likely to switch to private label? Product Usage: Are shoppers purchasing more multi-purpose products? Do they try to extend the life of products? Do they share more products across family members? Clearly, shoppers are thinking more about their purchase decisions, and marketers, in turn, must ensure that every facet of how the product is presented meets with a given shopper profile’s needs. With EconoLink, retailers and manufacturers will be able to tap into the shoppers’ mindset and cater to his or her needs. Improving each profile’s shopping experience with new marketing programs will make them feel more at home in your store, and maybe even change some of their shopping habits in your favor.

SymphonyIRI-Forrester Research-Visible Technologies Webinar - The Roadmap From Social Listening To Integrated Social Intelligence

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:26:17 -0600

December 1, 2011 Time: 12:30 p.m. CT Description: During the Webinar, titled, “The Roadmap From Social Listening To Integrated Social Intelligence,” SymphonyIRI, Forrester and Visible Technologies experts will discuss strategies for segmenting digital consumers so marketers can identify more high-opportunity shoppers. They will outline how to better leverage digital media in a more impactful way by replacing, for example, “push” messaging with one-to-one dialogue. They will review analysis of the relationship of a brand’s social media initiatives and resulting “buzz” with the in store sales impact. Several case studies will be presented illustrating the insights to be gained when applying traditional insights and analytics to social media. Speakers: Phil Ripperger – Vice, President, New Media Solutions, SymphonyIRI Group; Zach Hofer-Shall - Customer Intelligence Analyst, Forrester Research; Elizabeth Morgan – Senior Vice President, Visible Technologies Learn more

Blog: Survey Says: Frugality is Here for the Long Haul

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:20:29 -0600

With the country still feeling the aftershocks of the recession, many consumers today have held on to their frugal practices. In fact, in our newly released Times & Trends Special Report: “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride,” we detail how many of these shoppers have embraced money-saving strategies with new fervor. Additionally, they continue to hone household and grocery rituals in ways that help them manage expenses. This Times & Trends Special Report, based on results from our third quarter MarketPulse survey, finds that consumers continue to trim back eating out behaviors and instead are cooking simple meals at home. The survey also reaffirms that the Internet is a popular resource for consumers seeking the best deals. With nearly one in four consumers finding it difficult to afford weekly groceries, clicking for savings is just one of the tools consumers are using to carefully plan their CPG excursions before entering the retail marketplace. A summary of additional insights and retailer/manufacturer recommendations to address today’s conservative shopping mindset can be found in the press release on this report. More details regarding this report are included in a recording of our Times & Trends Webinar. Topics discussed include, “How can CPG and retail marketers adjust their strategies to appeal to today’s very conservative and risk-averse ‘Downturn Shoppers’ in order to improve sales, share and loyalty?” Please click here to watch the recording and download a PDF of the presentation.

Webinar Replay: Times & Trends Special Report: The Downturn Shopper

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:45:14 -0600

TIMES & TRENDS SPECIAL REPORT: THE DOWNTURN SHOPPER Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride Nearly half of shoppers surveyed for SymphonyIRI’s Third Quarter 2011 MarketPulse™ believe they are a little or a lot worse off financially today versus this time last year, and 30 percent believe they will be worse off next year at this time. This is not exactly fortuitous news for CPG companies and retailers. Yet, there is an upside. Consumer rituals around dining, entertaining, beauty and health care have taken a much more home-based and self-driven turn, and CPG products are playing an integral role in making those rituals happen. How can CPG and retail marketers adjust their strategies to appeal to today’s very conservative and risk-averse “Downturn Shoppers” in order to improve sales, share and loyalty? This webinar provides detailed insights into consumer sentiment regarding the evolving economic landscape and personal wealth, as well as attitudes and behaviors that are serving as the safety belt for the duration of the ongoing economic rollercoaster ride. This ride has brought great opportunity for CPG marketers, but capturing that opportunity has involved travelling a track of twists and turns. Find out how you can leverage an individual-level, 360 degree understanding of “The Downturn Shopper” to gain a new level of loyalty heretofore unseen among shoppers. Unravel the mystery of “The Downturn Shopper,” including their attitudes, rituals, money-saving behaviors, shopping and consumption habits, digital media usage, and priorities. Learn to reach consumers when and where they are looking for product information with the right value-oriented messages. Build sales and share with products and programs designed to address the most pressing needs of key shoppers, making ‘living well with less’ an attainable goal. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Duration: 60 minutes

In the News: Consumers to Pare Holiday Meal Spending

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:37:12 -0600

More than one in four (26%) consumers plan to spend less on holiday gifts this year; 16% will reduce spending on celebration-related food and beverages; and 11% will lower their budgets for holiday beer, wine and spirits, finds SymphonyIRI Group’s “Holiday Shopping 2011” report.

Blog: Igniting Innovation

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:25:40 -0600

Everyday, we have conversations with our clients about innovation. Everyone wants to be innovative, but what exactly is an innovative product or solution? How does innovation translate to the less-sexy, but critical question of sales and market share uplift? How do product managers include innovation into the value proposition? These are just a few of the dozens of innovation-related questions we hear. I would like to start an ongoing dialogue about innovation and invite you to participate. We discuss the definition of innovation quite a bit, and it seems that every person we ask has a unique view. However, three attributes that seem to consistently be part of innovation include: Innovation creates a new value proposition that addresses a specific need Innovation differentiates a product from its competitive set Innovation includes solutions not previously introduced to a market Ignite One analogy that I’ve liked is thinking of innovation as essential to a brand the way oxygen is essential to fire. Successful innovation ignites a brand, while unsuccessful innovation can extinguish it. Also, successful innovation can create a halo effect that can generate new interest in other brands within a portfolio. While every company handles innovation differently, I’ve seen a few common steps that act as useful starting points. Ask and answer a series of basic but critical questions: What are we trying to accomplish? Are we trying to develop new products or services? Create a value product from a premium one? Grow into new geographies? And then ask some more questions: Will our new idea attract new customers? Will it take cost out of our product? Will it change dynamics of the category? Once you have answered these and other questions, identify an approach to quickly test/validate the idea, such as creating a fast prototype to quickly determine if an idea is viable, accomplishes our goals and successfully answers the questions posed. How do you handle innovation? Thank you for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 11/11/2011

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:24:53 -0600

Walmart Pops Up In Two Locations With New Concept Burkle’s Yucaipa Hopes to Have Its Own Tea Party Meijer Gets Aggressive In Diabetes Battle Sansolo Speaks: No Joking Matter Walmart Looks To Beef Up Its Meat Departments Sears And Kmart Go To The (Virtual) Wall Walmart Health Care Plans Feel Some Arrhythmia Where’s The Beef? In A Vending Machine. Ahold Brings The Latest In Mobile Self-Checkout To New England Starbucks Buys Juice Maker, Plans To Launch New Retail Chain Shoppers Pushing Back Against Thanksgiving Openings FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Press Release: Shoppers Redouble Frugal Practices in Prolonged Down Economy, SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Special Report Reveals; "Conservatism" Is the Pervasive Shopper Attitude

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:09:17 -0600

Downturn Shoppers Increase Conservative Practices, Including Eating In, Extending the Life of Products and Utilizing the Internet to Find the Best Deals CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2011 – The ongoing economic downturn has spawned a new breed of consumer, downturn shoppers, who are continuing and extending their frugal practices, significantly impacting when, where and how they purchase consumer packaged goods. A new SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Special Report, “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride,” was released this week, highlighting these behaviors and offering recommendations to CPG and retailer decision makers. This Times & Trends Special Report is based on results from SymphonyIRI’s third quarter MarketPulse™ survey, an ongoing survey series commissioned to monitor shoppers’ perceptions around the evolving economy, and the impact that the economy is having on personal financial conditions, lifestyle and shopping behaviors, and money-saving strategies. This quarter’s MarketPulse revealed that a majority of shoppers remain pessimistic about their personal finances and that, as this pessimism continues, they are increasingly expanding money-saving practices, such as eating at home, extending the life of personal care products, utilizing a cleaning product for multiple tasks, clipping and downloading coupons, and using the Internet to find the best deals. “In this prolonged down economy, nearly one in four consumers find it difficult to afford their weekly groceries,” said Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “As a result, many consumers are adjusting their food and beverage-related behaviors in an effort to save money. Through the MarketPulse survey, many consumers are telling a story of optimism that has faded and been replaced with expectations that the economy will remain stagnant or weaken further. In reaction to this lack of confidence, a theme of ‘conservatism’ is prevalent across markets, channels, categories and consumer segments.” Home Is Where the Savings Is Consistent with MarketPulse findings from the second quarter of this year, more than half of consumers surveyed dialed back the frequency of eating out in an effort to conserve. A similar number is creating and serving more “simple” and less expensive meals at home. Other household rituals they are observing include: 42 percent of consumers are bringing snacks/food from home to school or work to save money 36 percent of consumers are going to the doctor less and self-treating more to save money 35 percent are turning more frequently to at-home beauty treatments in lieu of spa treatments “For CPG marketers, there is a bright side to this downturn economy,” continued Viamari. “Many of the rituals consumers are embracing as they seek to manage their budgets involve packaged goods solutions. But, shoppers are selecting and using these solutions in a very cost-conscious manner. Marketers must understand and deliver against the conservative mindset behind this approach to daily living in order to fully capitalize on opportunities spawned from consumers’ ongoing budgetary concerns.” Shoppers are also approaching grocery shopping in a very measured manner, as they feel the need to budget and spend prudently. To that end, many shoppers are making CPG decisions at home, even before they head into stores. More than two-thirds of shoppers enter the stores with ready-made lists A substantial and growing number of shoppers are combing circulars and coupons to find the best deals When in stores, two-thirds have cut back on “non-essential” grocery purchases Consumers Click for Savings The Internet is rapidly becoming an integral component of the downturn shopper’s money saving strategies. MarketPulse points to a steady rise in shoppers using the Internet to research products, download recipes and gather coupons. 26 percent of consumers research products on Web sites, an increase of two points from the previous quarter 39 percent of shoppers download recipes off Web sites and other online sources, versus 36 percent in the second quarter 37 percent of consumers download coupons from manufacturer Web sites, as compared to 35 percent in the previous quarter “Retailers and manufacturers seeking to succeed and remain profitable in today’s challenging retail environment must consider implementing aggressive product and shopper marketing initiatives,” said John McIndoe, senior vice president of marketing, SymphonyIRI. “Most importantly, these initiatives must demonstrate value, not necessarily just based on price and convenience, but also on delivering relevance. To do so, CPG marketers must begin with a holistic shopper analysis, founded on an integrated analysis of frequent purchase data plus demographics, life stages, needs, usage and more.” SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride,”at 11:30 a.m. CT on Nov. 17, 2011. To register for the webinar, hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/TheDownturnShopper/tabid/281/Default.aspx. About the Report This month’s Times & Trends Special Report, “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride,” is a free report available from SymphonyIRI, the world’s leading innovation partner that enables CPG, retail and healthcare companies to create and maximize new opportunities. SymphonyIRI based this month’s report its quarterly MarketPulse Survey, a nationally representative survey of 2,000 shoppers conducted in the third quarter of 2011. To download the report, visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/ArticleDetail/tabid/117/ItemID/1372/View/Details/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, Inc., formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Press Release: SymphonyIRI EconoLink™ Offers CPG and Retailer Decision Makers New Insights into How Today’s Challenging Economic Conditions Are Impacting Consumer and Shopper Behavior

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:46:02 -0600

New Modeling Solution Leverages SymphonyIRI Consumer Network Panel, MarketPulse™ Research and Analytics Capabilities CHICAGO, Nov. 14, 2011 – In an economy where CPG and retailer decision makers alike are continuously searching for new insights into the attitudes and behaviors of shoppers, SymphonyIRI today announced the availability of its new segmentation solution, EconoLink™. This extremely relevant and timely segmentation groups shoppers into a series of unique profiles, enabling CPG and retailer marketers to better understand how their categories, brands and stores are performing in today’s challenging economic times. In addition, this segmentation will assist marketers as they develop new product, promotion, merchandising, pricing and store layout strategies designed to cater to these audiences. With this information, marketers can apply these profiles to SymphonyIRI’s Consumer Network Panel to benchmark current performance and monitor progress over time. “This segmentation enables manufacturers and retailers to create actionable targeting programs aimed at activating shoppers at varying stages of the ‘path to purchase,’” said Larry Levin, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Insights, SymphonyIRI. “Whether it’s around digital or traditional media activation influencing a shopping list or prior to that final ‘moment of truth,’ manufacturers and retailers have a chance to leverage their products and stores to drive consumer choice and commitment.” In addition to segmenting shoppers into distinct classifications based on their attitudes and behaviors around the economy, SymphonyIRI’s new EconoLink solution offers a comprehensive level of detail about shopper strategies ranging from pricing preferences, use of in-store technology, level of home research through both traditional and online activities, couponing strategies and retailer preferences. It also provides an exhaustive look at shoppers’ financial attitudes, demographics and the impact of the recession on each group’s shopping decisions. Below are the profiles SymphonyIRI has developed for the EconoLink solution, along with a very brief description of each: Downtrodden – With a median age of 48 and median income of $41,000, this group is highly pessimistic about their financial situation, tends to shop at mass merchandisers, dollar and convenience stores, and supercenters, actively collects coupons and seeks out loyalty card discounts. Cautious and Worried – This group is not motivated by coupons and in-store promotions, favors mass merchandisers, dollar, convenience and club stores, has a median income of $47,000 and median age of 55. Approximately half believe their current financial situation is worse than a year ago. Start-ups – These shoppers are more inclined to shop at grocery stores, see drug stores as the new convenience channel and also favor mass merchandisers. Thirty-six is the median age of this group and they earn a median income of $47,000. Start-ups tend to search for information online and three-quarters consider their financial situation to be the same as one year ago. Optimistics – Nearly 60 percent of this group believes their financial situation is better than a year ago; they tend to shop at mass merchandisers and supercenters, search for information and coupons online and like loyalty discounts. Their median age is 40 and median income is $64,000. Carefree – With a median income of $67,000 and median age of 53, Carefrees like to shop at club stores, tend not to collect coupons and buy on trust of the brand. Nearly 80 percent believe their financial situation is the same as one year ago. Savvy Shoppers – This group tends to shop at grocery and drug stores, and mass merchandisers. With a median age of 51 and median income of $76,000, Savvy Shoppers enjoy shopping and seek out value. They use online coupons and store circulars. Seventy percent believe their financial situation is the same as a year ago. Levin noted that multiple manufacturers and retailers have demonstrated interest in the new segmentation solution. “Food and non-food manufacturers, as well as all types of retailers are eager to better understand both how shoppers developed their current attitudes and behaviors, and how today’s behaviors will evolve in the future,” he said. Economic Segmentation Webinar Series SymphonyIRI is offering a two-part webinar series entitled “Identifying and Activating Your Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions.” The first webinar, on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. CST, will highlight six unique shopper segments identified in our newly released EconoLink™ study, show how the economy has affected shopper behavior and analyze the impact to brands. The second webinar, on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. CST, will focus on how retailers and manufacturers can leverage insights from the EconoLink segmentation to activate various shopper groups along the path to purchase. Several case studies will showcase the effectiveness of these strategies in action. To register for the two-part webinar series, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/EconomicSegmentationWebinars/tabid/297/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit: http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Blog: Petco Collaborates with SymphonyIRI to Join CPG Industry’s Information Sharing Model

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:05 -0600

Here at SymphonyIRI our goal is to provide the industry’s leading insights to help our manufacturer and retailer clients better address their business needs. Today, we announced our collaboration with leading pet specialty retailer, Petco, to share CPG market information that will help both of our organizations obtain deeper level insights in the marketplace and with Petco shoppers. What does this mean exactly? It means that Petco is now the first pet specialty retailer to provide us with census-level data from all of their stores, further enhancing our existing market information model that already covers the majority of food, drug, mass (excluding Walmart), convenience and dollar retailers. Additionally, unique to this collaboration, Petco will also leverage our RetailAdvantage™ solution and have access to our POS data to help its associates gain a better understanding of its shoppers. This is a very exciting time for our business as this collaboration expands on our coverage in specialty and emerging channels while also providing manufacturers the best information available to succeed in this space.

Point of View: Wine Industry Shows Stability and Growth

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:58:37 -0600

Based on a detailed analysis of past recoveries, SymphonyIRI predicts several years of 3 percent volume growth once consumer expectations have stabilized.

Webinar: Economic Segmentation Webinars 12/1 and 12/6

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:46:36 -0600

IDENTIFYING AND ACTIVATING YOUR SHOPPER IN CHALLENGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Two-Part Webinar Series Insights into the perceptions and attitudes that shape consumer shopping and purchase behavior are invaluable to marketers. It is this knowledge that provides a solid foundation for any shopper activation strategy. However, the impacts of the economy and the repercussions felt by those impacts are many and varied. To that end, shoppers have become even more sophisticated in terms of how they view value and more demanding in their expectations around CPG products and the marketing programs that support them. To give marketers a head start on strategies to optimize opportunities with this new shopper, SymphonyIRI is offering a two-part webinar series entitled “Identifying and Activating Your Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions.” Webinar 1: Identifying the Changing Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions This webinar will focus on six unique segments of the market which are changing the dynamics of the U.S. shopper. Get to know how your categories and brands may be interacting with shoppers who are facing different challenges in today’s uncertain economy. Host: Larry Levin, Executive Vice President of Consumer Insights Date: Thursday, December 1st Time: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT; 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. CT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET Webinar 2: Activating your Shopper in Challenging Economic Conditions The second installment of this two-part webinar series will demonstrate how retailers and manufacturers can design shopper, marketing, and retail activation strategies around a target group of shoppers. First, you will learn how to describe in very granular language the composition of your target group, utilizing six unique segments identified in SymphonyIRI’s recent EconoLink™ study. Then, you will discover how to develop effective marketing activation, including leveraging media and promotions which will resonate strongly with key segments. Finally, the session will cover how to develop effective retail activation against key segments, including optimizing key geographic, banner and store opportunities. Several case studies will bring to life how these activation programs work in action. Host: Paul Lainis, Senior Vice President of Consumer & Shopper Insights Date: Tuesday, December 6th Time: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT; 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. CT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET

Times and Trends: The Downturn Shopper: - Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 13:38:11 -0600

It has been more than two full years, and the economic rollercoaster has not yet stopped. This ride has brought great opportunity for CPG marketers. But to capture that opportunity, marketers are travelling a track of twists and turns. Rising gas prices and falling stock prices. Inflationary commodity cost and diminishing margins. High unemployment and low consumer confidence. And ,consumers are holding on tight, so they do not thrown off the ride. Strategies embraced by consumers throughout the economic downturn are many and varied. They are such because personal circumstances and the impacts of the economy on those circumstances are quite diversified, as well. For CPG marketers, this is perhaps the biggest obstacle of all. The days of “one size fits all” products and marketing strategies have gone by the wayside. This is the new, more personal world of consumer packaged goods. Here still, marketers must understand the big picture: key industry trends and the trends impacting individual channels, outlets, departments and categories. The most successful marketers, though, will go beyond those industry trends. The most successful marketers will understand THE SHOPPER—the shopper at an individual level…the shopper from a 360 degree perspective. This edition of Times & Trends begins to unravel the mystery of “The Downturn Shopper.” Based upon the findings from SymphonyIRI’s quarterly MarketPulse survey, this report provides detailed insights into consumer sentiment regarding the evolving economic landscape and personal wealth, as well as attitudes and behaviors that are serving as the safety belt that will ensure maximum safety for the duration of the rollercoaster ride.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 11/4/2011

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 12:29:05 -0600

The Identity Crisis Of U.S. Retail Kroger Lays Out Seafood Sustainability Commitment Restaurant Prices Up, Supermarket Prices Up More Supervalu Shifts Gears, Will Focus More On Remodeling Traditional Stores Chicago To Consider Plastic Shopping Bag Ban Sansolo Speaks: Make Anything Special FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Webinar: The Downturn Shopper November 17, 2011

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 10:06:36 -0500

TIMES & TRENDS SPECIAL REPORT: THE DOWNTURN SHOPPER Buckled in for a Wild and Crazy Ride Nearly half of shoppers surveyed for SymphonyIRI’s Third Quarter 2011 MarketPulse™ believe they are a little or a lot worse off financially today versus this time last year, and 30 percent believe they will be worse off next year at this time. This is not exactly fortuitous news for CPG companies and retailers. Yet, there is an upside. Consumer rituals around dining, entertaining, beauty and health care have taken a much more home-based and self-driven turn, and CPG products are playing an integral role in making those rituals happen. How can CPG and retail marketers adjust their strategies to appeal to today’s very conservative and risk-averse “Downturn Shoppers” in order to improve sales, share and loyalty? Based upon the findings from SymphonyIRI’s latest Times & Trends Special Report, this webinar provides detailed insights into consumer sentiment regarding the evolving economic landscape and personal wealth, as well as attitudes and behaviors that are serving as the safety belt for the duration of the ongoing economic rollercoaster ride. This ride has brought great opportunity for CPG marketers, but capturing that opportunity has involved travelling a track of twists and turns. Find out how you can leverage an individual-level, 360 degree understanding of “The Downturn Shopper” to gain a new level of loyalty heretofore unseen among shoppers. Unravel the mystery of “The Downturn Shopper,” including their attitudes, rituals, money-saving behaviors, shopping and consumption habits, digital media usage, and priorities. Learn to reach consumers when and where they are looking for product information with the right value-oriented messages. Build sales and share with products and programs designed to address the most pressing needs of key shoppers, making ‘living well with less’ an attainable goal. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Date: Thursday, November 17th Time: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. PT; 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. CT; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET

Blog: Why is My Packaging Green?

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:13:56 -0500

Everywhere we look there is a huge shift to all things “green.” Whether it is green homes, green cars or greener day-to-day practices, the “live green” mentality is here to stay. This eco-friendly trend has also spread to the CPG industry with the introduction of sustainable packaging. And, while it is obviously a positive shift to transform our current practices to become more environmentally sound, is sustainable packaging truly sustainable? The most recent trend in sustainable CPG packaging is to use compostable materials that look and act as a plastic but are made from sugar cane waste or corn oil. Because the packaging is derived from natural materials, it can be placed in compost recycle bins or home compost piles. While this seems like a wonderful idea on the surface because these are natural materials versus plastic, are we now growing crops strictly for packaging? And, if so, is that a problem? The ability to eliminate the creation of plastic and replace plastic use by natural materials is a huge step in the right direction. Even if crops are being grown for the sole purpose of replacing plastic, the ability to eliminate the need to produce an unnatural material creates a closed loop circle where a product is completely sustainable on its own (i.e. growing corn to make corn oil to create biodegradable/compostable replacement plastic materials only to compost them and start the process over). If CPG manufacturers can piggy-back on this emerging trend and package products in compostable, green packaging, this can be used as a competitive advantage since today, many consumers are extremely environmentally conscious of what they purchase. Many shoppers purchase soaps containing no phosphates or entire household cleaning product lines that contain all natural ingredients. For a manufacturer to have products packaged in compostable materials would open the doors to a growing population of eco-consumers while being an environmentally kind company. As the green movement continues, it’s safe to say we will also see a significant green shift within the CPG industry. The ability to use green materials for packaging and offer those products to the masses can be beneficial for consumers and manufacturers alike, especially in a time when people are hyper-conscious about the sustainability of the products they purchase.

Point of View: 'Tis the Season

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 10:45:04 -0500

According to recent results from SymphonyIRI Group‘s Holiday Shopping 2011 survey, 82 percent of respondents indicate that increased concern about the economy is negatively impacting holiday budgets.

Press Release: SymphonyIRI to Offer Insights on Shoppers’ Use of Digital Media Platforms and Outline New Marketing Opportunities at 2011 Inmar Promotions Forum

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 10:45:01 -0500

Robert I. Tomei to Introduce New Shopper Segmentation Results and Focus on Specific Groups of High-Value Shoppers WHO: Robert I. Tomei - President, Consumer & Shopper Marketing, SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. WHAT: How manufacturers and retailers can better understand and leverage shoppers’ increasing use of smart phones, social networking and the Internet to plan and implement their shopping strategies remains a difficult and complex question. SymphonyIRI’s shopper marketing expert, Robert I. Tomei, will present a unique shopper segmentation approach that focuses on these new technologies and will also examine two specific groups of shoppers that provide the strongest opportunities in his presentation, “Digital Media Shopper Segmentation.” Tomei will also discuss strategies to reach and motivate shoppers most likely to provide feedback to manufacturers and retailers, as well as influence other shoppers. WHY: Shoppers continue to adjust their shopping strategies. New technologies have emerged that can provide a valuable “window” into what shoppers are thinking and planning. To build brand and banner loyalty, manufacturers and retailers must have a near household level understanding of what’s on shoppers’ minds as they prepare for their shopping trips. WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, 1:15 p.m. CT WHERE: Sheraton Dallas Hotel 400 North Olive Street Dallas, TX 75201 http://www.inmar.com/forum About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # CONTACTS: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Case Study: SymphonyIRI Helps Poultry Producer Hatch Plan to Roost on More Supermarket Shelves

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:51:12 -0500

A leading poultry producer and long term SymphonyIRI client developed new portioning options for their product. The company came to SymphonyIRI seeking a better understanding of how to best bring these items to supermarket shelves.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 10/28/2011

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:15:15 -0500

Chicago To Get 17 New Supermarkets As Part Of Food Desert Solution Sansolo Speaks: From the Middle to Madrid Study: People Don’t Use Nutrition Labels As Much As They Say They Do The Trader Joe’s Conundrum: Expand, But Keep Its Eclectic Vibe Food Lion’s Newly-Remodeled Stores Dean Janeway Retires After 45 Years At Wakefern; Joseph Sheridan Becomes COO FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Blog: Ready…get set…SHOP!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:16:25 -0500

With Halloween upon us, shoppers have already started their holiday preparations. If you are a retailer or manufacturer, you must also be prepared for the onslaught of shoppers looking to buy more for less this year. As we talked with numbers of retailers across the country, we’ve heard from many about their number one concern this holiday shopping season: When will shoppers open up their wallets? With anxiety and anticipation setting in, we are seeing the re-emergence of layaway and discounting programs as retailers do everything they can to bring shoppers in stores. Believe it or not, shoppers are in more control than ever before. This means retailers and manufacturers must keep in mind the purchasing strategies shoppers will employ this holiday season in order to be successful: Keyboards will be burning up as shoppers search for deals. Tip: Ensure that whatever promotions you offer as a manufacturer are fully linked at the retailer level, such as through Web sites and the consumer shopping level (i.e. groupon, etc.) Play to the shoppers’ regimen and rituals. Tip: When promoting, understand regimens and rituals, such as how weekends are primary baking days for consumers. Understand that warm soothing meals for kids are important during this time of year and that entertaining becomes a critical part of family celebration which we expect to grow this year. Don’t over promote. Tip: 61 percent of Americans are survivalists, so many can’t stock-up and buy three of something. Ensure that you are tuning your promotions to your audience. Provide interesting and exciting uses of your products. Tip: Bring flavor, meal and ethnic innovations to market in your recipes during this holiday season. Ensure you’re executing well at retail. Tip: During this holiday season, it’s all about shopper expectations of being able to buy products when they want to buy it. “Out of Stock” is big a no-no. Consider bundling. Tip: Bundle not only meal options, but dessert and snacking. Experiment with shoppers to delight them and not just sell them products. Store brands will be on shopping lists. Tip: Expect store brands to be part of meal components and position products accordingly with value based offerings and not just price. The choices are simple. Retailers and manufacturers must either understand what will meet the needs of this year’s holiday shopper or have a lackluster holiday season.

Press Release: SymphonyIRI to Offer Insights on the Power of Scanner Data for the Retail Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:47:51 -0500

SymphonyIRI’s J.P. Beauchamp to Outline How Hispanic and Multicultural Marketers Can Benefit from High-Speed Granular Data WHO: J.P. Beauchamp - Vice President, New Media Solutions, SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. WHAT: J.P. Beauchamp will be a featured speaker at the 8th Annual New American Mainstream Business Summit and will provide insights on the benefits of scanner data for the Hispanic and multicultural markets in his presentation, “Retail Packaged Goods and the Power of Scanner Data.” WHY: In the 21st Century, consumer goods companies depend on high-speed granular data from their retail partners. SymphonyIRI has pioneered the collection and distribution of this data for food/grocery, drug stores and mass merchandisers. As part of the Summit, marketers, analysts and executives will gain insights on ground breaking research, techniques and technology employed by leading corporations like SymphonyIRI. WHEN: Friday, October 28, 2011 at 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EST WHERE: Epic Hotel 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 http://www.geoscape.com/summit.asp About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # CONTACTS: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Event: 8th Annual New American Mainstream Business Summit

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:32:08 -0500

8th Annual New American Mainstream Business Summit October 28, 2011 Dates: October 26 – 28, 2011 Speaker: J.P. Beauchamp - Vice President, New Media Solutions, SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. What: J.P. Beauchamp will be a featured speaker at the 8th Annual New American Business Summit and will provide insights on the benefits of scanner data for the Hispanic and multicultural markets in his presentation, “Retail Packaged Goods and the Power of Scanner Data.” Why: In the 21st Century, consumer goods companies depend on high-speed granular data from their retail partners. SymphonyIRI has pioneered the collection and distribution of this data for food/grocery, drug stores and mass merchandisers. As part of the Summit, marketers, analysts and executives will gain insights on ground breaking research, techniques and technology employed by leading corporations like SymphonyIRI. When: Friday, October 28, 2011 at 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EST Where: Epic Hotel - Miami, FL Learn More: http://www.geoscape.com/summit.asp

Consumers Still Feel Wary of Economic Future Heading Into the Holidays

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:45:14 -0500

We’ve had a busy week here at SymphonyIRI with the release of our Holiday Shopping 2011 survey results and Point of View, “Gray Skies: Consumers with negative views of government’s handling of the economy have hunkered down and reined in spending—for the long haul.” Both uncovered similar trends and while it is no surprise consumers are still feeling wary about the economic future, attitude toward spending is directly reflected upon their shopping behavior. The Holiday Shopping 2011 survey that looked at shopping attitudes of 2,000 consumers (a nationally representative sample) found that this holiday season 81 percent will be turning to the Internet for the best deals and shopping online this year. While consumers expressed a desire to have a holiday season consistent with those experienced prior to the economic downturn, they are being extra conscious about exactly how and what they are spending their money on this year. A few examples of money saving strategies during the holiday season include: 79 percent of consumers will be making their grocery purchase decisions before entering the store 26 percent plan to spend less on holiday gifts with most budgets (74 percent) topping out at $800 for gifts 48 percent of consumers will take advantage more often of promotions learned online versus 50 percent, who will leverage online promotions with the same frequency as last year While the holiday survey took a thorough look at holiday spending trends, many similarities with regard to shopper outlook was uncovered in the ”Gray Skies” Point of View that indicated 82 percent of shopper behavior is being impacted by negative feelings towards government spending, resulting in uncertainty that will undoubtedly impact holiday budgets. This tightening of the belts has caused consumers to continue being creative with their saving and spending habits. And, thanks to the Internet and new technology, efforts to save money often are quick and easy, even literally at consumers’ fingertips on smartphones and other devices. Between the Holiday Shopping 2011 research and the “Gray Skies” Point of View, it’s clear that the common and familiar theme among consumers of being conscious of personal finances, planning for the future and getting creative with savings and purchase decisions is here to stay. As the uncertainty of the economic future remains, it’s clear that the mindful spending habits of consumers will also continue creating an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to capitalize on money saving promotions, strategies and programs.

Blog: Check It Out

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:58:00 -0500

As shoppers, we’ve all seen self-checkout stations pop up in stores nationwide. Some stores now only provide the self-checkout option. This idea was initially implemented to save retailers labor costs by no longer eliminating the need for cashiers at all times that the store is open. However, it hasn’t necessarily provided the cost benefit that some expected. It’s arguable that a store with all self-checkout stations may be too much, as it eliminates shopper contact with the cashier whose role can serve as the face of the retailer. At the same time, a store with no self-checkout stations might also be a disservice to consumers who prefer less face-to-face interaction or are buying a last minute item and want to get in and out quickly. It seems a good compromise would be to have a few self-checkout stations in any given retail outlet in addition to express and regular checkout lanes serviced by a cashier. Think of it this way: From the consumer side – Offering a few self-service checkout stands enables those who only have an item or two or who are really efficient at self-checkout to quickly complete their purchases. From the retailer standpoint – It also allows for face-to-face interaction with cashiers, creating opportunities to build relationships and establish brand loyalty. From an economical perspective – The retailer is being responsible by opening up more workable hours and creating job positions in the current dire job market. On one hand, this is completely a personal choice where each consumer has a preference as to how they pay; face-to-face or self-checkout. Through trial and error, retailers will figure out what method best suits their stores and their shoppers’ needs. As all shoppers are unique, addressing the needs of different customers by offering regular and express checkout lines in addition to self-checkout stations seems to be the most well rounded option. As a consumer, which do you prefer? As a retailer, what has worked best for you and your customers?

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 10/21/2011

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:04:39 -0500

Walmart Gives Heave-Ho To Marketplace Format Sansolo Speaks: Some Things Can’t Be Faked Technology + Economic Hard Times = Fewer Impulse Purchases Wegmans Opens In Beantown. Crowds Converge. The Media Swoons. Wegmans To Get New Competition In New York State Price Chopper Launches New Online Shopping Venture Whole Foods Expands No Checks Policy Report Looks At Average Savings Accumulated Since Limits On Hidden Swipe Fees FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Blog: Happy Halloween – Trick or Treat?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:23:01 -0500

With Halloween only a week away, the countdown to this spooky day is rapidly winding down. As job losses and falling home values continue to compel consumers to reduce spending on non-essentials, a majority of consumers are planning to trim back their spending this holiday season. Interestingly, though, the economy has not spooked Americans to spend less on Halloween. This year, more Americans are dressing up, throwing parties and decorating their homes and front lawns as the urge to splurge overshadows broader economic troubles. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $6.9 billion on Halloween this year, with an average of $72.31 per person spent on decorations, costumes and candy. That’s up from the $3.3 billion they planned to spend on the scary holiday in 2005. Spending is expected to go up across the board with more consumers dressing up, throwing or attending parties or visiting a haunted house this year. Temporary and pop-up stores dedicated to Halloween merchandise are also increasing by an estimated 8 percent when compared to 2010, according to IBISWorld Inc. Halloween pop-up stores continue to spread across the country, taking up dead space vacated by defunct retailers, such as Borders and Circuit City. Halloween merchandise began appearing online as well as in stores like Walmart, Sears and Kmart before the school year began. Ironically, even though the numbers say consumers are spending more, consumers want to think they’re spending less— the NRF reports that 32.1 percent say the economy has them scared, and of those, 87.1 percent are trying to spend less on Halloween. Consumers are exploring various interesting alternatives to save money without compromising on Halloween celebrations, such as renting their costume from a Web site or a local costume rental store rather than purchasing it new, borrowing a friend’s costume from prior years, making homemade costumes or exploring thrift stores. As a non-gift holiday, even people on the strictest budget can enjoy themselves this Halloween. This is definitely a great opportunity for retailers and manufacturers to spike up their sales. Though most of consumers’ spending is captured by seasonal specialty stores, such as Spirit Halloween, all retailers try to get a share in their own unique ways. Creating Halloween displays by highlighting anything orange or black and products with ghost or monster themes attracts more foot traffic and thus sales. Many retailers start to stock products suitable for use as Halloween decorations, costumes, or foodstuffs. Some retailers are drumming up business by inviting customers to a costume party a few days before the big night and sponsoring a costume contest with one of their highest-valued products as the prize. Passing out candy in custom goodie bags branded with the store’s name, address, and Web site is an easy way for brand advertisement. With a less-than-thrilling holiday shopping season on the horizon, retailers are pinning their hopes on a booming Halloween. It’s a light-hearted holiday and with all the stress and bad stuff going on in the world, it is a great way to forget your troubles and pretend to be someone else for a day. The spooky holiday is expected to generate record sales this year as consumers look for an escape from the gloomy financial news.

Webinar Replay: Holiday Shopping 2011

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:00:22 -0500

HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2011 What Marketers Can Expect in their Stockings this Year As we head into the 2011 holiday shopping season, consumers are still leery about their job stability and are finding it necessary to save even more money as they continue to face uncertain times. All is not doom and gloom for the holidays, though. This is the time of year that consumers tend to open their wallets a bit more, and this year will be no exception. The trick for retailers and manufacturers is to have a thorough understanding of shoppers’ mindsets and how to best meet their needs. As shoppers plan for the 2011 holidays, how will their desire to splurge versus their need to manage costs balance out? Based on SymphonyIRI Group’s 2011 survey research, this webinar reveals the mindset of CPG shoppers as they plan for this year’s holiday season. Equipped with economic coping strategies which are now second nature to many, shoppers are predicted to be more mindful in their approach to planning and executing holiday celebrations as well as gift giving. While shoppers will keep their eyes firmly planted on the bottom line, they are looking forward to celebrating. Marketers who delight shoppers by making it easy for them to keep costs down without sacrificing quality and indulgence will gain a place in shoppers’ hearts and minds long after the holidays. Discover how shoppers will be leveraging the Internet to make their holiday purchases Preview where consumers are planning to shop Develop marketing messages that will “wow” shoppers by making delectable feasts and generous gifts an affordable reality. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Duration: 60 minutes

In the News: Pulse Report: Channel Blurring

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:54:29 -0500

In a fiercely competitive environment, retailers can win market share by better addressing shoppers’ and consumers’ evolving needs.

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Survey Finds Majority of Americans Unhappy with Government’s Handling of Economy

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:19:59 -0500

“Negative Nellies” Tightening Belts More Securely than General Population CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2011 – Understandably, the barrage of negative statistics about employment, approval ratings, housing markets and the economy has taken its toll on consumer sentiment. It is easy to make generalizations about consumer sentiment, but it is more difficult and especially critical to understand sentiment on a very granular level, and how that sentiment is affecting consumer attitudes and behaviors. After all, rich or poor, people are making more conscious purchase decisions than they ever have before. The latest SymphonyIRI Group Point of View, “Gray Skies: Consumers with negative views of government’s handling of the economy have hunkered down and reined in spending—for the long haul,” reveals how “Negative Nellies”—the 82 percent of consumers who believe the government’s actions are having a significant negative impact on the economy—are changing their behaviors and lifestyles more dramatically and indelibly versus the rest of the population. “For CPG manufacturers and marketers looking to succeed in the evermore competitive retail market, a detailed understanding of this huge ‘Negative Nellie’ segment of the population is essential,” says Susan Viamari, author of the Point of View and editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “The negatives have reined in spending a bit more than the average consumer and index slightly higher on a number of conservative attitudes and behaviors, such as believing price is more important than convenience, using coupons more frequently and buying more private label products. CPG manufacturers and marketers need to stay on pace with evolving consumer attitudes and realize that, particularly across the negatives, many behaviors forced in the past few years have become habitual.” Who Exactly are the Negatives? Playing into the stereotypically more sunny and optimistic disposition of many women compared to men, males accounted for a larger percentage of those with negative views. Also, given the variable nature of political views in different parts of the country, the South is home to significant portion of the negative group. This can likely be attributed to overall dissatisfaction with the Democratic government in a region ripe with “red states,” which did not support the election of President Obama in the first place. Financial status, too, makes an impact. Fifty percent of those with negative views are “doing-well”* consumers, most of whom likely have experienced significant financial pitfalls due to high investments in today’s turbulent markets. Purchasing Patterns The negatives as a group have adopted new shopping behaviors and are making concerted efforts to budget and spend wisely. Thanks to the Internet and new technology, efforts to save money often are quick and easy, even literally at consumers’ fingertips on an iPhone or other smartphones and gadgets. Negatives index as much as 9 percent higher than the general population on some shopping behaviors, such as using online resources to find coupons, leveraging iPhone apps to find coupons and buying less variety to reduce the number of items in a household. *Doing-well consumers: One member households earning $35,000+ or two or more member households earning $60,000+ Living a Scaled Down Life The fear of an uncertain economic future has affected consumer budgeting, but it has also markedly affected consumers’ lifestyle choices in their day-to-day activities. Consumer dining- out patterns have shown for years now that consumers are eating out less often and saving dining-out opportunities for special occasions. It’s no surprise, then, that consumers are cooking and eating at home more often. The negatives, though, are doing so with just a bit more frugality. For instance, negatives are slightly more likely to create and serve simple, less expensive meals at home, snack less frequently, and eat smaller portions. Similarly, the negatives are taking a slightly more proactive approach to saving on health and beauty expenses. They are 8 percent more likely to use the Internet for health information, including diagnosing/treating simple ailments, for instance, and are 3 percent more likely to use at-home beauty treatments. In addition, negatives are more likely than the general population to self-treat for simple ailments, make cleaning products last longer and make beauty products last longer. “Though sometimes news reports, market research and the overall outlook may appear eternally gray and cloudy, consumers continue to evolve in ways that are surprising and amazing product developers and retailers alike,” says Viamari. “CPG manufacturers and marketers need to embrace these oft-changing consumers and evolve in order to remain a part of the shopping basket going forward.” To download the free Point of View, “Gray Skies: Consumers with negative views of government’s handling of economy have hunkered down and reined in spending—for the long haul,” please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/Publications/SymphonyIRIGroupPointofView/tabid/197/ctl/Details/mid/923/ItemID/1358/Default.aspx. Findings reported in this Point of View are based on SymphonyIRI’s quarterly MarketPulse survey. More detailed findings on the Q32011 MarketPulse will be featured in a Times & Trends Special Report in November. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, Inc., formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Point of View: Gray Skies

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:17:09 -0500

Consumers with negative views of government’s handling of the economy have hunkered down and reined in spending—for the long haul. This Point of View reveals how Negative Nellies— the 82 percent of consumers who believe the government’s actions are having a significant negative impact on the economy—are changing their behaviors and lifestyles more dramatically versus the rest of the population. For CPG manufacturers and marketers looking to succeed in the evermore competitive retail market, a detailed understanding of this huge segment of the population is essential.

Blog: Times & Trends: Private Label

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:19:06 -0500

Brand Positioning in the New World Order It was once considered embarrassing to be seen with a private label product, but today nearly all shoppers buy private label products stigma free. Private label products bring to market an important alternative to national brands. In a time where consumers are still reluctant to open their wallets, private label products are no longer simply similar to national brands at a lower price point, but often offer their own unique value propositions. Private label has become an important strategic component to help shoppers get through difficult times. Many retailers have successfully leveraged private label to enhance banner loyalty in an era of increased channel shifting. They have launched products at different price and quality points, developed attractive packaging and created aggressive merchandising and promotion strategies. Marketers at national brands haven’t sat on their hands. They have developed innovative strategies to co-exist with private label brands and highlighted the unique attributes of their offerings. Last week’s webinar, based on SymphonyIRI Group’s latest Times & Trends report, explored current and emerging trends around private label, as well as national brand efforts to protect and grow their position in the CPG marketplace. Additionally, the webinar discussed: The latest private label channel, category, and price-related trends and how those translate into new opportunities. A new understanding of shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors across key departments/categories and the drivers of those behaviors. How to effectively identify and deliver against critical shopper needs to win share of wallet and shopper loyalty. It’s not too late to watch the webinar, visit our online webinar archives.

Blog: The New Shopping Standard: Deliberate Spending

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:36:49 -0500

The past 18 months has been a whirlwind of economic uncertainties…we’ve all heard it before. But, take a closer look and despite some of the upticks in spending during holiday periods, like Easter and Christmas, and you’ll see that the general consumer purchasing patterns has not changed. We don’t predict any change happening in the near future and, surprisingly, today’s savvy consumers aren’t too fazed by it. There are four things driving this spending stagnation. The first is fairly obvious. Consumer angst with the current economy and its stability is driving consumers to spend more deliberately and less frivolously. Making matters worse is the continued negative news on lack of available jobs. This has led to shoppers pausing before they purchase. These shoppers have learned a new series of shopping rituals and regimens to achieve better value for the dollar their spending. Most have learned to live with less and are happy about it. This new behavior suggests that a new shopper norm has arrived. What this means for retailers over the next 18 months is that there will need to be a refocus on redesigning the shopper experience given this slower pace of shopping. It will be critical to demonstrate better value and put in place better programs to show consumers that retailers understand their plight. Retailers like HEB, Publix and Redmans provide examples of how to better service shoppers by bundling cost-efficient meal solutions, for instance. For manufacturers, the new shopper value equation where quality is received for every dollar spent, means the need to reposition products around value. As such, private label is developing in the shoppers’ minds as a “better value” equation. Manufacturers must consider details, such as the type of information highlighted on labels, and make the case for the quality benefits of products. Platforms like “better for you” will help justify value for today’s choosy consumer. Some manufacturers have already begun to address this, such as Clorox who highlights the importance of home essentials and how shoppers can use their products to easily keep their home healthy and clean. Sara Lee provides options to simplify breakfasts and Campbell Soup offers meal options such as their Quick & Easy $4 Dinner Ideas. Despite this new shopping standard, there is still room for success in CPG. It’s just a matter of flexibility in strategy and understanding of the shopper’s plight.

Case Study: Defending Shelf Space and Creating Winning Scenarios

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:13:22 -0500

The Challenge Strong growth of private label products in major over-the-counter (OTC) categories have led many retailers to delist branded SKUs in favor of private label SKUs. A leading OTC brand was under attack in its category at a large, national drugstore chain. Even though the brand-name OTC drug’s annual sales were over six times that of the private label product’s, the brand-name drug team wanted to protect its products against private label growth. SymphonyIRI’s client, an OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer, sought to explore if discontinuation of the private label option at the drugstore chain would affect sales of the brand name drug. Analytcs PL Case Study The SymphonyIRI Approach SymphonyIRI Group recommended an Attribute Drivers™ modeling solution and the use of the Assortment Simulation tool to address its client’s objectives. The Attribute Drivers solution allows for the estimation of consumer choice in the category and thereby the ability to quantify the value that actual buyers place on brand name/equity, product features and attributes, and everyday pricing. This approach also makes it simple to identify a direct link between product attributes and actual product sales. The Assortment Simulation tool then uses the Attribute Drivers model to simulate SKU rationalization at the retail level. It delivers assortment recommendations based on add/delete scenarios, and provides a holistic category sales impact analysis. The Results SymphonyIRI’s analysis showed that eliminating 10 private label SKUs from the retailer’s set would minimally impact dollar and unit sales of the category. The retailer would lose 3.5 percent of total private label brand dollar sales, whereas the brand name annual sales would increase by 7.6 percent. The remaining private label brand sales would transfer to other branded and private label products. Based on results from this analysis, the manufacturer decided to further expand on the opportunity to review the current assortment with the drugstore chain. The manufacturer recommended delisting some of the underperforming private label offerings and created a revised assortment which would be more profitable for both parties. Client Benefits The result was a winning scenario both in terms of driving higher sales and margins for the OTC pharmaceutical manufacturer and the drugstore chain. The SymphonyIRI Assortment Simulation tool not only helped the manufacturer proactively maintain and defend their retail shelf space, but also set the stage for future joint partnerships with retailers. Additionally, SymphonyIRI provided the manufacturer with essential insights to bring to life various SKU scenarios and view category and brand volume impact in just minutes, enabling fast decision making and the ability to quickly bring products to market.

Press Release: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like an E-Holiday Reveals SymphonyIRI Research

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:42:38 -0500

SymphonyIRI Survey Finds Internet Will Play Big Role in Helping Consumers Save Money This Holiday Season CHICAGO, Oct. 18, 2011 – A whopping 71 percent of consumers earning less than $100,000 per year are planning to trim back their spending this holiday season, according to new research, “Holiday Shopping 2011,” released today by SymphonyIRI Group. In addition, 74 percent of consumers will be spending less than $800 in total on the holidays and 73 percent will begin shopping before Dec. 1. These findings point to a holiday season filled with consumers doing their homework to find the best deals and most value for their money. “Consumers are going to shop for gifts that help make the holidays bright, but they are going to do so with an eye toward keeping costs down,” said Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “The Internet is going to play a big role in helping consumers stick to their budgets. In fact, 81 percent of consumers say they will be shopping online this year. This is a sizable jump from 2010, when 54 percent of consumers told us that they would do some of their holiday shopping online. Of course, the convenience and time saving option of shopping 24 hours a day is a big plus, but many consumers are also going to comparison shop before purchasing online or heading to an actual store.” Ringing in the Holidays with Prudence With 44 percent of consumers saying they are worse off financially today versus one year ago and 82 percent saying they think government actions are making a negative impact on the economy, it is no surprise that this uncertainty will impact holiday budgets. Findings from SymphonyIRI’s quarterly MarketPulse survey, conducted online in September 2011, reveal that consumers expect ongoing deterioration across a number of budget-related measures in coming year: 70% are concerned about the price of food 65% are troubled about the cost of utilities 58% are worried about gas prices 53% are uneasy about the cost of borrowing/interest rates 52% are anxious about the value of investments, including stocks, bonds, 401K, retirement accounts, etc. These concerns will lead a number of consumers to cut back even further this year. SymphonyIRI’s Holiday Shopping 2011 survey results found that 26 percent plan to spend less on holiday gifts, 16 percent will reduce spending on celebration-related food and beverages and 11 percent will spend less on holiday beer, wine and spirits. However, even with the feelings of uncertainty, holidays are viewed as a special time, and consumers want their rituals to be commensurate with the importance of the season. It will just be a delicate balance for consumers. Filling the Sleigh with Gifts For 74 percent of consumers this year, gift-giving budgets will top out at $800, which is in line with what was spent last year. However, budgets will be smaller for 26 percent of consumers. Cut backs are happening across income brackets, but they are most prevalent among middle-income shoppers. Planning is the name of the game this year, with 32 percent of shoppers relying more heavily on premade lists and only 39 percent of consumers saying they will purchase fewer unplanned gifts this year than they have in the past. With lists in hand, 75 percent of consumers will begin their shopping before Dec. 1. While this timeline is similar to last year, one in five consumers are starting earlier in hopes of saving money. Many consumers are timing their holiday shopping in order to accommodate budgetary needs. For instance, 46 percent want to spread spending out rather than making fewer, larger trips, 41 percent want to take advantage of sales, and 24 percent want to ensure availability of items they want to purchase. To get the most for their money, consumers are turning to the Internet to help with their money-saving strategies. Interesting findings from the survey include: 44 percent of consumers will use more coupons from retailer Web sites versus 54 percent, who will use about the same as last year 42 percent of consumers will use more coupons from manufacturer Web sites versus 54 percent, who will use about the same as last year 61 percent of consumers will use more coupons from group couponing Web sites versus 33 percent, who will use the same as last year 48 percent of consumer will take advantage more often of promotions learned online versus 50 percent, who will leverage online promotions with the same frequency as last year 43 percent of consumers will compare products on the Internet more often (consumer forums, blogs, etc.) versus 54 percent, who will do the same comparison shopping as last year Consumers Tightening Their Belts at the Holiday Table During the past few years, consumers have been eating out less and cooking more at home. These behaviors are expected to continue on this path in the coming year. For holiday celebrations this season, 71 percent of consumers say they want to prepare the best meals possible, but they will be keeping a close eye on their food and beverage bills. Overall, 71 percent of consumers say they will spend the same on their holiday meals as they did last year, but 18 percent are tightening their belts a bit more and plan to spend less. With affordability top of mind, consumers will still be leveraging some tried and true money-saving tactics in addition to turning to the Internet. For instance, 79 percent of consumers will be making their grocery purchase decisions before entering the store, 24 percent plan to buy more products in bulk this year than they have in the past, 37 percent will redeem more “reward points” for products, and 20 percent will rely more heavily on private label products. So, where will consumers be shopping for their holiday meals? Grocery stores remain the most popular outlets for shopping and will attract 88 percent of shoppers. Forty-five percent of consumers say they will shop in club stores, 41 percent in mass merchandisers, 37 percent in supercenters, 8 percent in dollar stores and 7 percent in drug stores. SymphonyIRI Holiday Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “Holiday Shopping 2011: What Consumers Can Expect in Their Stockings This Year,” on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. CT. The webinar will highlight findings from the newly released SymphonyIRI Holiday Shopping 2011 report and will be hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends. To register for the webinar, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/HolidayShopping2011/tabid/281/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, Inc., formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: john.mcindoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: shelley.hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: +1 (312) 474-3675

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 10/14/2011

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:43:07 -0500

Wegmans To Open First Boston-Area Store Winn-Dixie’s Transformational Efforts Said To Be Paying Off Sansolo Speaks: On and Off Thin Ice Walmart To Use Facebook To Get Local With Product, Price Promotions Supermarkets Adapt Mobile Technology To Attract Customers, Make Sales FreshDirect Expands Long Island Presence Walmart Sees Light At The End Of The U.S. Tunnel Target To Sell Only Sustainable Fish By 2015 FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Webinar Replay: Times & Trends: Private Label

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:18:25 -0500

TIMES & TRENDS: PRIVATE LABEL Brand Positioning in the New World Order It wasn’t so long ago that many shoppers were embarrassed to be seen with a private label product in their cart. Today, however, private label products bring something new to the market. They are no longer simply “me too” products that offer “the same thing for less money.” Increasingly, they are strategic weapons that separate a retailer from its competitors in a way that helps to build loyalty and purchase behavior. And still, private label can be—should be—even more. How can retailers expand private label to reach more broadly and deeply into the CPG marketplace and reinforce the equity of the store banner? How can national brand marketers continue to identify and capitalize on opportunities to raise their own value proposition while partnering with retailers for mutual growth? Based on SymphonyIRI Group’s latest Times & Trends report, this webinar explores current and emerging trends around private label, as well as national brand efforts to protect and grow their position in the CPG marketplace. Much opportunity remains for private label marketers and national brand marketers alike. But, success will be achieved by those who are thinking outside the box. Discover the latest private label channel, category, and price-related trends and how these translate into opportunities for manufacturers and retailers. Understand shifting consumer attitudes and behaviors across key departments/categories and the drivers of those behaviors. Effectively identify and deliver against critical shopper needs to win share of wallet and shopper loyalty. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Duration: 60 minutes

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 10/7/2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:54:10 -0500

The Reconsideration of Self-Checkout Sansolo Speaks: Wrong Questions The Road To Frugality May Be A One-Way Street Tesco To Roll Out Card Program Chain-Wide In U.S. NRF Projects Good If Not Great Holiday Shopping Season FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Webinar: Holiday Shopping 2011

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 14:54:45 -0500

HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2011 What Marketers Can Expect in their Stockings this Year As we head into the 2011 holiday shopping season, consumers are still leery about their job stability and are finding it necessary to save even more money as they continue to face uncertain times. All is not doom and gloom for the holidays, though. This is the time of year that consumers tend to open their wallets a bit more, and this year will be no exception. The trick for retailers and manufacturers is to have a thorough understanding of shoppers’ mindsets and how to best meet their needs. As shoppers plan for the 2011 holidays, how will their desire to splurge versus their need to manage costs balance out? Based on SymphonyIRI Group’s latest survey research, this webinar will reveal the mindset of CPG shoppers as they plan for this year’s holiday season. Equipped with economic coping strategies which are now second nature to many, shoppers are predicted to be more mindful in their approach to planning and executing holiday celebrations as well as gift giving. While shoppers will keep their eyes firmly planted on the bottom line, they are looking forward to celebrating. Marketers who delight shoppers by making it easy for them to keep costs down without sacrificing quality and indulgence will gain a place in shoppers’ hearts and minds long after the holidays. Discover how shoppers will be leveraging the Internet to make their holiday purchases Preview where consumers are planning to shop Develop marketing messages that will “wow” shoppers by making delectable feasts and generous gifts an affordable reality. Host: Susan Viamari, Editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI Group Date: Thursday, October 20th Time: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT; 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. CT; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET

Press Release: SymphonyIRI Report Takes a New Look at Private Label Trends

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 11:39:45 -0500

Private Label Performance is Mixed Across CPG Channels; Club and Mass/Super Channels Seeing Strongest Share Growth CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2011 – It wasn’t so long ago that many shoppers were embarrassed to be seen with a private label product in their cart. Today, nearly everyone buys private label products with no stigma attached. Private label products bring something new to the market and are no longer simply “me too” products that offer “the same thing for less money.” Increasingly, they are strategic weapons that separate a retailer from its competitors in a way that helps to build loyalty and purchase behavior. And still, private label can be—should be—even more. SymphonyIRI Group’s latest Times & Trends Report, “Private Label: Brand Positioning in the New World Order,” explores current and emerging trends around private label, as well as national brand efforts to protect and grow their position in the CPG marketplace. Much opportunity remains for private label marketers and national brand marketers alike. But, success will be achieved by those who are thinking outside the box. “At nearly 23 percent of CPG unit sales across retail channels today, private label products certainly have momentum and command a sizeable share of consumers’ CPG spending,” says John McIndoe, senior vice president, Marketing, SymphonyIRI. “However, this momentum is not demonstrated equally across channels, retailers, departments or categories. This means there is room for private label and national brand manufacturers to capitalize on opportunities. The key for both camps is to center their efforts on the shopper. Those that effectively identify and deliver against critical shopper needs will win share of wallet and shopper loyalty.” Share Trends While retailers across channels are working to strengthen their private label programs, performance at the channel level varies rather markedly. Today, private label share is largest within the grocery channel, but, within the grocery channel, private label share of sales slid 0.6 points during the past year. Within the drug channel, private label share of sales fell sharply during the past year. Some of these declines occurred in health-related categories, with share of vitamins and internal analgesics falling by 3.2 points and 4.4 points, respectively. Sizeable drops also occurred in the beauty department in the drug channel. In this channel, for instance, private label share fell more than 5 points in both soap and blades categories. These declines are noteworthy because they occurred in departments that are generally strongholds for drug retailers. “Both manufacturers and retailers know that private label is not a panacea,” said Susan Viamari, editor, Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Private label products remain, on average, 29 percent lower priced than national brands. Remove that price advantage and dollar and unit sales could plummet. In fact, the shrinking private label price gap very likely contributed to some of the private label share losses experienced during the past year. Going forward, private label products are subject to the same commodity price increase pressures as national brands, so establishing and maintaining effective pricing and promotion strategies should be top of mind for every CPG marketer in the marketplace today.” Category Opportunities Private label has an above average and growing presence in 30 of the top 100 CPG categories. The most sizeable private label share increase came in the refrigerated salad/coleslaw category, which has jumped more than 20 points during the past three years. Private label offerings of gastrointestinal tablets, cold/allergy/sinus tablets, internal analgesics and pastry/doughnuts are also doing well. National brands are entrenched in 22 percent of the top 100 CPG categories. Cat/dog litter, diapers, cat food, eye/contact lens care and single-serve dinners are categories where national brands hold above average share of spending and are successfully winning even more share. In six of the top 100 CPG categories, private label share is above average, but national brands are winning share of spending. The pasta category is one example of a category where national brands are taking such a stand. This category is seeing the largest decline in private label share thanks in part to innovation, such as whole grains and added nutrients that has brought some level of differentiation to the category. Frozen seafood, pickles/relish/olives and moist towelletes are also seeing national brands driving private label spending down. Strategies Manufacturers seeking to develop effective private label mitigation strategies should consider the following action items: Identify and assess brand-specific opportunities and risks with respect to private label: Monitor price gaps between their brands and private label alternatives to ensure an optimal price gap is maintained; understand private label performance across key categories; leverage value-oriented pricing and promotion programs to protect and grow share. Refine competitive strategies vis-à-vis private label: Maintain solid understanding of price/value perceptions across key consumer segments; invest in innovation that will bring differentiation to the marketplace. Measure and monitor actual versus planned impact of brand related initiatives: Test new product concepts before embarking on development plans; track and benchmark store-level shifts relative to private label among key retail partners. Retailers seeking to grow private label share should consider the following action items: Identify and assess store brand opportunities and threats: Tailor store brand offerings at the market level; support private label lines with consumer-centric and highly integrated marketing campaigns, including in-store display and feature ad support. Refine private label development strategies: Evaluate feasibility of multi-tier offerings across key categories/product lines, either alone or in partnership with national brand manufacturer partners. Measure and monitor actual versus planned impact of private label related initiatives: Test market product, pricing and promotion changes prior to and immediately following roll out; track and benchmark store-level store brand share shifts relative to national brands. SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Webinar SymphonyIRI is offering a free webinar, entitled “Private Label: Brand Position in the New World Order,” at 12 p.m. CT on Oct 13. To register for the webinar, hosted by Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, please visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/NewsEvents/EventsWebinars/TimesTrendsPrivateLabel/tabid/297/Default.aspx About the Report This month’s Times & Trends Report, “Private Label: Brand Positioning in the New World Order,” is a free report available from SymphonyIRI, the world’s leading innovation partner that enables CPG, retail and healthcare companies to create and maximize new opportunities. The findings of this report were compiled based on information from SymphonyIRI Consumer Network™, SymphonyIRI AttitudeLink™, SymphonyIRI Total Store Advantage™, and SymphonyIRI Advantage on Demand™. To download the report, visit: http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/Publications/TimesTrends/tabid/106/Default.aspx. About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies. SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management. SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com. # # # SymphonyIRI Group Contacts: John McIndoe E-mail: John.McIndoe@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3862 Shelley Hughes E-mail: Shelley.Hughes@SymphonyIRI.com Phone: (312) 474-3675

Blog: An Alternative to “Paper or Plastic”

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 09:02:05 -0500

It is no secret that people are attempting to become more eco-friendly for one reason or another these days. Whether it is as simple as composting or as complex as putting solar panels onto their houses, people are trying new ways to help the environment. One sustainable trend that’s taken hold is the usage of re-usable bags. A great alternative to the “paper or plastic” option re-usable bags help reduce the influx of non-compostable items into the land fills. While the hope is for all shoppers to choose to use re-usable bags on their own accord, new alternatives to the ever-prevalent “paper or plastic” are beginning to pop up. Here is a look at a few of these alternatives: Banning of Bags: Regions have passed city ordinances outlawing the distribution of plastic bags within certain retailers. It began with San Francisco, who issued a city-wide ban on plastic bags in 2007, and has spread to other cities like the recent Santa Cruz. Charging for Bags: To deter people from loading groceries into paper and plastic bags, entire regions have passed laws that will charge people for bags. In Los Angeles County, grocers must charge customers 10 cents per bag and in Washington, D.C., five cents per bag. These regions are hoping that by charging people for bags, people will be disinclined to use them. Reward for Bags: On the flip side of charging people for bags, some retailers like Target and CVS have taken the forward step by actually paying people for bringing their own bags. This incentive will hopefully make people more prone to bringing in their bags and less prone to using bags at the stores. Ridding of Bags: Supercenters like Costco and Sam’s Club have completely eliminated bags from the equation and made it so customers don’t have a bag option. Instead, these supercenters offer their customers boxes that the store products come in, as a form of packaging for the customer but also to reduce dump costs for the stores. For now, these alternatives are available to help rid the environment of plastic bags and until they are banned altogether, a reminder to shoppers of the benefits of using re-usable bags and having re-usable bags available for purchase at check out is a step in the right direction.

Blog: Is Healthy Eating Really Healthy or Just a Fanciful Myth?

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 08:53:39 -0500

We’ve all witnessed the large, deliberate shift to healthy living options. Whether it be the promotion of exercise, the push of fitness clubs and magazines or eating a more plentiful diet, the buzz about healthy living is certainly being felt. This trend has taken the CPG and retail industry by storm. Almost every product being offered today has a low-fat or non-fat option, and it’s almost standard for packaging now to include natural, organic or allergen-free labels. While this all seems like a positive trend and move toward the right direction, it has created some concern amongst consumers. While various product packaging may state an all natural or low-fat option, it sometimes comes in exchange for high amounts of sugar or fatty ingredients that aren’t even entirely natural. Just because a product is low-fat doesn’t necessarily mean it is sugar free. This has resulted in consumer confusion and disappointment with many feeling misinformed by manufacturers. Some consumers are left disheartened by the premise that in order to see what is truly in a product the label is not enough. This recent dilemma has become a rather precarious topic within the CPG industry. Seeing the Big Picture In a time where consumers are being conscious of their spending, creating and maintaining brand loyalty is more critical than ever. CPG manufacturers have the opportunity to be a part of this health food trend by being fully transparent with the ingredient list, therefore establishing themselves as a brand worthy of consumers’ trust. As is, brands are already seeing this health and wellness trend as a competitive advantage and some are providing full disclosure when it comes to health food information, including non-GMO ingredients, specifying the percentage of organic and natural ingredients and listing the allergen-related ingredients a particular product contains. Some retailers have also started healthy lifestyle groups within their community for shoppers interested in learning more about healthy eating strategies. Ultimately, transparency fosters customer trust and loyalty. As this health food trend continues to unfold, it seems safe to assume that CPG companies will have to get on board with full ingredient disclosure, as some already have, per consumers’ request.

Retail Industry News Weekly Week of 9/30/2011

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:47:46 -0500

Sobeys Agrees To Supply Target Canada Sansolo Speaks: Really? Frippery Sales Up, Basic Sales Down Safeway Appoints New Chief Medical Officer More Executive Moves At Walmart As Shelley Broader Becomes CEO in Canada Ramadan Promotion Scores For Whole Foods FastNewsBeat The MNB Wal-Mart Watch Executive Suite

Blog: The Consumer Cost of Food Allergies

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 08:55:18 -0500

Take a look down your grocery and drug store aisles and you’ll agree that food-allergen awareness has increased ten-fold in the last couple years. Everywhere you look, whether in magazines, store signage, or on TV, people are talking about different allergens, ways to cook without certain foods, and the importance of retailers providing allergen-free products. While many retailers have started carrying allergen-free foods, including gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free, the cost and availability of these products are still proving to be a burden to consumers. As a whole, the costs of allergen-free products are normally almost double the cost of regular products. Take for example the King Arthur gluten-free cake mix. While very delicious, this cake mix cost $6.95 compared to normal mixes that average below $3. Consumers with allergens have no option but to purchase these pricier foods. However, doing so puts a strain on the pocketbook. Despite the increased awareness, these foods are still not as available as normal products. Not all retailers have a large selection of allergen-free products which leaves consumers traveling to multiple stores or shopping in other towns. Whole Foods is one such retailer that has a very wide selection of allergen-free products, but unlike larger, less specialized chains, there are limited locations. This leaves consumers driving farther and spending more money on gas, again increasing the costs. Many consumers have turned to purchasing online because of lack of availability and higher costs of allergen-free food. Sites like Amazon or Gluten-free.com offer a wide variety of allergen-free products as well as free delivery. This cuts down on travel for consumers which in the end, saves them money. There’s no doubt that the demand for allergen-free products is only going to increase. Brick and mortar retailers should take note of this demand now in order to remain competitive with their online counterparts by addressing cost and availability concerns from consumers.