Andrew Dickow’s Post

My team's recent research on the collision of two grocery battlegrounds, Fresh and Private Brands, was just published highlighting the "Most Loved" private brands. Grocers with top-performing departments in meat, fresh produce, and dairy have an edge over competitors, according to our research. US shoppers who love a grocer’s private-label brand are seven times more loyal to the grocer than shoppers who are reluctant to recommend its own-label product range. Explore our latest rankings in US private-label brands in fresh and perishable food. For those keeping score, this is the second "Most loved" brand list we've published (the first focused on shelf stable and frozen food) and there are 3 repeats: H-E-B, Trader Joe's, and Kirkland earned top spots on both lists. https://bit.ly/3YxDdjy

Whole Foods Market has a reputation for being expensive. So, it was interesting to hear that CEO, Jason Buechel, is focused on trying to shift that image. Apparently, the chain will be investing in a generic, in-store label to offer products at value-driven prices. Will this help Whole Foods ditch its Whole Paycheck image? In my view, it will not because it completely misses the mark. For a start, most of the complaints about prices are not focused on private label. Indeed, the 365 label isn’t bad value. You can buy a 365 BBQ chicken pizza for $5.39. Nip over to Target and their Good & Gather BBQ chicken pizza will set you back $5.99. The problems actually arise on national brands where Whole Foods is usually way more expensive. Just this weekend, Whole Foods had Van Leeuwen ice-cream on discount. Reduced from the standard price of $6.79, the new $5.69 level might seem like a bargain. Unfortunately, at $4.98 Walmart’s standard price is way lower than Whole Foods’ discounted price. The disparity applies itself across so many products. Want some nice Mrs Meyers’s fabric softener? That’ll be $9.99 at Target. At Whole Foods … $11.79 for the exact same product. From the consumer perspective, there is no earthly reason why identical products should cost so much more at Whole Foods. Indeed, this is one of the reasons why the business loses a massive volume of trade in categories like household essentials to retailers like Walmart, Target and Kroger. A large number of people nip into Whole Foods for fresh products and then go somewhere else to buy other things. The other problem for Whole Foods is that this just isn’t about price. It’s also about value for money. In some areas, like customer service, taste of prepared foods, and innovative products, Whole Foods does not score anywhere near as high as it should with customers – and it actually under indexes more mainstream grocers. This is a real issue as these factors are the very things needed to justify higher prices. Under Amazon, Whole Foods has performed nowhere near as well as it should have done. It’s another example of Amazon’s lack of impact in grocery and the latest muddled thinking will do little to turn the tide. #retail #retailnews #WholeFoods #grocery #food #supermarkets

F&B Manufacturing 2024 Capital Spending Outlook -->Unfinished Business? Per foodprocessing.com, the Food & Beverage industry's capital spending outlook for 2024 reflects a recalibration after the ambitious plans of 2023. Despite a 14% increase in actual expenditures last year compared to 2022, this year's projections show a more modest 3% growth collectively. Companies like Hershey, deviating from their historical spending patterns, reflect this shift. As one would expect with the staffing & hiring challenges, Automation is a driving force behind these investments. These challenges along with supply chain disruptions did impact some projects in 2023. However, 2024 forecasts indicate a positive outlook overall, with many companies planning increased investments. Larger corporations like General Mills and Mondelēz International are leading this trend, while smaller projects and maintenance investments also remain prevalent. As economic and political uncertainties continue to persist, the Food & Beverage Manufacturing industry navigates a more pragmatic approach to capital allocation. #foodmanufacturing #beverageindustry #economicforecast #forhireresults https://lnkd.in/enii9tSE

Embracing the complexity of the food and beverage supply chain is not for the faint of heart. Laura Maxwell, SVP, supply chain at PepsiCo Foods North America, shared the company’s experience doing just that over the past several years at Manifest 2024, the supply chain and logistics conference in Las Vegas, explaining how the company’s “Always. Everywhere.” motto plays a part in its most recent transformation. According to Maxwell, PepsiCo emerged from the pandemic with a desire to focus on always being a consumer's choice in foods. For the company, that meant going beyond beverages and snacks and moving into other segments such as meat snacks, pasta, sauces, syrups, cookies and much more. Broadening its portfolio led PepsiCo to take on even more supply chain complexity thanks to a wider group of line items. The company looked at three main factors as it worked to change its supply chain, including: 1️⃣ Go Small to Go Big 2️⃣ Sustainability Through Declaring “Double" 3️⃣ A Focus On Partnerships Progressive Grocer 👉 https://lnkd.in/gj_uf2RH #retail #cpg #food #supplychain #logistics #growth #supermarkets

WHOLE FOODS MARKET vs. KROGER 2025 Food Trends. (And also some MINTEL, see comments below). In mid-October, Whole Foods Market released their 2025 Food Trend predictions. Two weeks later, so did Kroger. Predictions are just that, but they can validate what consumers and what we in CPG are seeing, or what we should take note of, possibly build innovation against, or simply buy to try. A side by side of five (5) food-specific #trends, from each #grocery chain, is compiled below, with G&Co. sentiments on the five. Of interest to me: • That Whole Foods Market visibly supported the #alcohol industry 🍺🍷🥂 in their list, while Kroger did not. And if you track alcohol sales as I do, the industry and those brands needs all the support they can get. • That Kroger plugged #privatelabel directly, with their “Food Dupes” trend, while Whole Foods Market integrated their own private label into brands that fit into trends. What they agree upon, I cite below. And I also flag the lists’ incongruity. Again, this side by side is food-specific, and does not weigh the packaging and sustainability trends called out by Whole Foods. #cpg #foodandbeverage #2025trends #foodtrends Mintel

McCormick & Company. anticipates volumes will turn positive in the back half of its fiscal year as the spices to hot sauces maker caps price increases. #food #foodindustry #foodindustryinsight #foodnews #foodbusiness #foodbusinessnews #foodbusinessowner #foodmanufacturing #foodanddrink #foodandbeverage #foodandbeverages #foodanddrinks #foodanddrinkindustry #foodprices #foodproducts #foodproduction #foodinflation

Big movement in the US snacks category market. PepsiCo has announced its acquisition of Siete Foods, a company known for its grain-free tortillas and snacks, aimed at expanding its portfolio in the fast-growing health-focused food segment. This move aligns with PepsiCo’s strategy to diversify its offerings and appeal to consumers seeking healthier options. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but Siete Foods has gained significant popularity in recent years, particularly among those with dietary restrictions. The acquisition reflects PepsiCo's commitment to innovation and growth in the snack food market. The total operation has a total value of $1.2 Billion. Basically the acquisition no only incorporate a new #brand in the portfolio of #Pepsico but also add more than 37.000 retail doors in the US #market; most of the ethnic stores where Pepsi see a lot of potential to grow. We can say now that Frito Lay got a #LATAM brand with solid distribution to reach the growing market of Latin and Spanish food consumers but also approaching the #healthy options for #snacking. https://lnkd.in/dtVX_q2a José Hernández García Roy L Hunt Francisco Muñoz Martínez BrandsXpansion - FOOD GROUP David Sotomayor López

Innovation Driving Early Recovery in Food Volumes, Conagra Brands CEO Says. Sean Connolly, CEO of Conagra Brands, recently spoke about the early signs of recovery in food volumes despite ongoing inflation challenges. In his insightful remarks at the annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, he emphasized the role of innovation in attracting consumers back to frozen, snacks, and other offerings. Connolly's optimism and focus on volume trends provide valuable insights into the industry's recovery journey. As the food industry navigates a dynamic landscape, Connolly's forward-looking approach sheds light on the company's resilience and strategic adaptation. Read the full article here: #FlavorWiki #FoodIndustry #Innovation #ConsumerInsights #MarketTrends #BusinessStrategy #ConagraBrands #LeadershipInnovation

Functional beverage is the fastest-growing category in grocery—but it’s also the least forgiving: https://okt.to/9BhacA “In a category as crowded and volatile as functional beverage, you’ll quickly see that the competitive forces are extraordinarily intense,” says LPK’s Chief Growth Officer, Jesse McMullin, a multi-hyphenate in functional beverage who has led the development and branding of over 140 on-shelf CPG products in his career. “The key to understanding these forces—and to maintaining a competitive advantage—lies in being self-aware about your brand and your business dependencies.” In our latest piece on lpk.com, McMullin gives guidance on navigating the complexities from seed to shelf: https://okt.to/sWZB1F #functionalbeverage #bevtrends #cpg #brandgrowth

Happy Friday everyone! Private label "dupes" are reshaping the grocery landscape! These alternatives to well-known brands deliver comparable quality at a lower price, making them a growing favorite among consumers. Kroger’s 2025 food trends report highlights how these products are gaining momentum as shoppers become more price-savvy. For brands, understanding this shift is key. At Fruselva, we provide packaging solutions form Tetra Pak to pouches and glass jars that allow private labels to offer affordable, high-quality products while staying sustainable. Curious about how private label “dupes” could impact your business? Check out the article here: [link]. #PrivateLabel #Dupes #FoodTrends #Fruselva #2025 #PackagingInnovation