New Grocery Formats Offer Big Opportunities for CPG & Fresh Foods

Retail

June 11, 2019

New Grocery Formats Offer Big Opportunities for CPG & Fresh Foods

In the movie There’s Something About Mary Ben Stiller picks up a hitchhiker played by Harland Williams. The hitchhiker expounds on his plan to get rich by coming out with a video called “Seven Minute Abs”, blowing the hit video “Eight Minute Abs” out of the water. Stiller responds by…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

4 Changes to Watch in the Grocery Business Right Now

Retail

April 9, 2019

4 Changes to Watch in the Grocery Business Right Now

Many years ago, I spent a summer working construction. One day the crew boss told me to pick up all the nails that had been dropped on the site (I was clearly unskilled labor) before quitting time. By 1:30 it was obvious to me there was no way I was…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

The Food Snacking Trend is Over EvansHardy+Young

Consumer Insights & Trends Retail

February 12, 2019

The Snacking Trend is Over

That’s right, snacking should no longer be considered a food trend. It’s now the new normal and it's here to stay. In fact, 50% of all eating occasions are now snacks. A December Mintel report states that 94% of adults snack daily, which raises the question, what are those other…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Retail

January 9, 2019

5 Food Retailer Forecasts for 2019

Have you ever waited in line at Starbucks for your order to be ready, then watched someone waltz in the door and go straight to the pick-up counter, where their drink was ready waiting for them? After I had this happen a few times I asked my daughter (a serious…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Monumental Shifts in the Grocery Supply Chain will Blow Your Mind EvansHardy+Young

Retail

November 7, 2018

Monumental Shifts in the Grocery Supply Chain Will Blow Your Mind

Some years ago, I worked on the advertising for a ballot initiative in California. The Proposition was a good one, and it would help improve the health of all Californians, especially children. The initiative was started by a well-known actor. We produced several commercials in support of the Proposition, including…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Grocery Shopping Food Advertising EvansHardy+Young

Retail

September 6, 2018

7 Winning Grocers Right Now in the Supermarket War

It’s been a year since Amazon bought Whole Foods and turned the grocery industry on its ear. This seems like a good time to get a read on the impact this has had, to take stock of the dizzying acceleration in the rate of change in the industry, and to…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

EvansHardy+Young The Future of the Supermarket is Here Food Marketing

Retail

June 19, 2018

The Future of the Supermarket is Here

Every supermarket chain has a weekly ad meeting where the items and prices for the next week’s circular are decided. When I worked on the Vons ad account (before they were acquired by Safeway) I used to attend these meetings, every Tuesday at 7am. I am not a morning person.…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Retail

March 14, 2018

Grocers Scramble in the New World of Amazon

Just one year ago the Food Marketing Institute estimated that online shopping for food and beverages would reach $100 Billion by 2025. Now they predict that number could be reached by 2022. There has been such a flood of activity that the tipping point has been reached.

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Amazon Target Walmart logos and grocery bag filled with fresh produce

Retail

December 13, 2017

The Food Industry and Amazon: Who’s Fighting Back…and Winning

There was nothing short of an avalanche of press surrounding Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. And, although Amazon claims 18% of all online grocery sales, the vast majority of food and beverage sales are still offline, leaving plenty of room for growth…for everybody. In fact, a good case can be…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor

Retail

June 6, 2017

How Grocery Retailers Capitalize on Convenience

‘Convenience food’ was once a pejorative, but not anymore. Today, it’s practically a requirement for food brands to provide convenient products, even when delivering “clean”, gourmet or vegan options. As A. Elizabeth Stone stated in the Institute of Food Technologists’ “Top 10 Food Trends” report in April 2017, “Despite the recent media…

John Stranger, VP/Group Supervisor