State Street Journal’s Post

Fast-casual chains continue to outpace the wider food industry in growth as value conscious diners demand affordable prices and experiences. Mediterranean chain CAVA beat Wall Street estimates Tuesday afternoon, with same-store sales jumping 18.1%, compared to 12.39% expected. The stock vaulted over $172 per share — an all-time high — on Wednesday, before giving up the gains and closing around $147. Shares of Cava are up 261% in 2024. "That value proposition [is] really beyond price," CEO Brett Schulman told Yahoo Finance. Schulman pointed to Cava's investment in digital and in-store experiences, people's shifting preferences for healthier food, and the company's efforts to keep the average bowl in the $13 to $15 range as factors in its success. TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles, CFA wrote in a client note that Cava's price increase, of roughly 15% compared to 2019, "significantly trails" the 25% to 30% hikes by most fast-casual peers. In the quarter, the chain's foot traffic was up 10.3% year over year, while its steak option contributed to order prices increasing by 7.9%. Fellow fast-casual player and burger chain Shake Shack posted same-store sales growth of 4.4% in its latest quarter, while salad chain sweetgreen saw a 6% jump. More: https://lnkd.in/eNqGjAD9 #yahoofinance #finance #markets #wallstreet #stocks #investing #earnings #business #food #restaurants #money

#DYK that the last quarter of the year accounts for approximately 70% of annual in the bar and restaurant industry? Seasonal shifts can have a big impact on the packaging and sales of alcoholic beverages. 🍂🥃 As we move into fall, it's crucial for brands to consider seasonal trends, compliance requirements, and market demands. Check out this insightful article on how to navigate the changing landscape and make the most of your brand's packaging strategy: https://bit.ly/3ZWEulB

Even the iconic Golden Arches are no longer immune to the retrenchment by consumers all over the planet. As was reported on Reuters News and numerous other sources, McDonald's sales fell globally for first time in more than three years in the last quarter, surprising just about everyone. It posted weaker results due to lower demand from customers and the only good news was that meal deals sold above expectations perhaps confirming how price sensitive their customers have become. Like many other purchases, consumers shy away from higher priced menu items, including Big Macs and continued elevated levels of inflation have forced more and more consumers to eat at home. In direct response to try to quell this trend, nearly all of the largest fast food chains including Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell to aggressively market value meals more than ever before. The CEO of McDonald's hit it on the head when he noted that "consumer sentiment in most of our major markets remains low." The real risk will come when these value meals expire and if/when the consumer will come back and spend at levels like in the past. Source: © Reuters, 2024. All Rights Reserved. © Mark S. Mandula, CLO BCR Learning, 2024. All Rights Reserved.

💥 Top Five Categories in London on Delivero 💥 Period: October 23 - April 24 After the name of each category, you’ll see the market share estimation. It's important to note that each store can classify itself under three categories. So the sum is 300%, not 100%. 🥇 Chicken: 19.5%, -2.1% since October 23 🥈 Burgers: 17.6%, -4.8% since October 23 🥉 Grocery: 15.6%, +12.4% since October 23 ❇ 4️⃣ American: 15.4%, -6.5% since October 23 5️⃣ Alcohol: 14.3%, +10.7% since October 23 ❇ ❇ Among the top 100 categories, the most impressive growth is shown by: 🥇 Acai: 0.15%, +43.9% 🥈 Bao: 0.16%, +42.2% 🥉 Wings: 3.15%, +33.6% 🔴 Among the top 100 categories, the worst dynamics are shown by: 🥇 Burritos: 1.34%, -23% 🥈 Sichuan: 0.58%, -22.9% 🥉 Soup: 0.19%, -19.9% For a full report covering 36,201 restaurants, please contact me via direct messages.

Americans have been allocating more of their income to food over the past two years than in three decades. In a recent analysis by the Wall Street Journal, it was found that each of the top 10 largest U.S. restaurant chains by market value managed to achieve profits that either met or exceeded 2019 levels in the last fiscal year. Exciting trends in the food industry are shaping consumer behavior and financial performance. #FoodIndustry #ConsumerBehavior #FinancialPerformance

Consumers have had enough with high prices and food and restaurant brands are feeling it. After years of high prices and shrinking product sizes to keep prices inline, the question is will consumers come back? Or has this been going on so long have new consumer habits been formed? This The Wall Street Journal article by Jesse Newman and Heather Haddon points out some of the attempts to win back customers like "Star Wars themed Oreos" or the return of McDonald's $5 menu but all of these are temporary fixes. Moving forward brands need to understand how habits have changed. Is Starbucks more of a treat versus the ritual it once was? Is the Private Label rice puff cereal a good enough alternative to Rice Krispies? It will be interesting to watch how consumers react. If special-offers or discounts don't win your customer back, understanding the role your product plays in the life of your customers will help. Ethnographic research allows you to see how your audience lives with your product (or its alternatives) will help you identify a path forward. #fmcg #cpg #food #inflation #research #brand #marketing #ethnographicresearch

Don’t be fooled by this misconception that your food or beverage product will sell itself just because it’s of the highest quality, offered at a low price and there’s nothing like it in the marketplace. Our upcoming #FoodpreneurAdvantage session on Selling to Food Retailers is available to those who have a CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) product but have never sold to retail stores. Join us for expert guidance on conducting successful sales calls, where we break down the process into a simple step approach. ✴️Register today: https://bit.ly/3wzjWTa

❓Did You Know❓ AFFI offers free monthly retail snapshots and analysis, available free to members. These reports provide the latest data and insights that you can take to your retail partners and sales/marketing teams. The latest report reveals that frozen food sales reached $8.3 billion for the month of August, and meals and desserts were the largest sellers. More and more categories are also growing unit sales, including pizza, fruits and vegetables, and baked goods. A tampered consumer confidence means a home-centric meal environment remains likely. Learn more about AFFI's Business Insights offerings: https://affi.org/insights/

Shift in the Alcohol Beverage Sector: Why Big Box Stores Are Falling Behind In the ever-evolving alcohol beverage market, big box grocery stores are seeing a downturn, and here’s why: their strategy focuses heavily on “set” alignments and prioritizing “top” selling SKUs across regions. This broad approach is missing the mark! Meanwhile, smaller independent retailers are thriving. Their secret? A direct focus on customer preferences and a sharp eye for industry trends, spotting shifts long before they hit the mainstream. These nimble players are not just selling products; they’re curating experiences tailored to real-time consumer desires, setting them leagues apart from the giants. Big chains could take a leaf out of this book. The key to winning in this sector isn’t just about stocking bestsellers but adapting swiftly and effectively to what customers truly want. #RetailTrends #BeverageIndustry #CustomerFocus #MarketShifts Imperial Beverage Sazerac Company Iron Fish Distillery Great Lakes Wine & Spirits RNDC Michigan Scott Newman-Bale Shane Nicholson Short's Brewing Company

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