If necessity is the mother of invention, then the pandemic has produced the mother of all necessities. Innovation has accelerated to levels never even dreamed of in the retail food industry because rapid and dramatic change is currently essential to survival. Forty-five percent of consumers have changed at least one brand preference since…
With all the changes wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, only a crazy person would try to predict which of those changes in the grocery industry will stick and which will fall by the wayside. Well ... here I go. In July 1848, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, editor of Le Figaro and a novelist (mostly romances), wrote,…
December 11, 2019
Grocery Shopping in 2031: Are you ready for a whole new world?
How will grocery shopping be different in 2031? Consider that the first iPhone was released just 12 years ago, and it has changed everything we do — from getting directions, booking travel, summoning a car, staying in touch with friends, reading the news, getting recommendations. You know what I am…
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…
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…
November 14, 2018
Meal Kit Watch: On the Way Out or Here to Stay?
While the meal-kit industry has gained momentum, progress hasn’t come without a fair share of challenges. High customer acquisition costs, low retention rates, and operational inefficiencies have strained industry pioneers like Blue Apron and many others. As competition grows to more than 150 meal kit options, companies are testing new…
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…
