PG_0923

PG’S 2023 EDITORS’ PICKS: MAKE ROOM FOR THE GOOD STUFF EMBRACING AUTONOMY Retailers must keep up with advancing store technology FALL BEER AND WINE FLAVORS Colder weather means richer notes, holiday varieties ON THE EDGE Shelf solutions highlight products to lift sales

UNBREAKABLE

BONDS

Giant Co. celebrates 100 years of connecting families for a better future

September 2023

Volume 102, Number 9 www.progressivegrocer.com

John Ruane, President, The Giant Co.

Connecting people through food they love.

Drive sales with new items your shoppers will love this fall!

©2023 Campbell Soup Company

Contents 09.23

Volume 102 Issue 9

Features

36

14 PROGRESSIVE GROCER’S 2023 EDITORS’ PICKS

26 NONFOODS

Unbreakable Bonds

The Good Stuff

An Instant Power executive explains what makes his company’s plumbing and cleaning products stand apart from those of competitors.

Departments

10 NIELSEN’S SHELF STOPPERS

COVER STORY The Giant Co. celebrates 100 years of connecting families for a better future.

6 EDITOR’S NOTE

Instant Gratification

Progressive Grocer once more highlights the best new products of the past year.

General Merchandise

11 MINTEL GLOBAL NEW PRODUCTS

Salty Snacks

Still Happy Places

12 ALL’S WELLNESS

8 IN-STORE EVENTS CALENDAR

Kicking Bad Food Habits

November 2023

74 AHEAD OF WHAT’S NEXT

12

A Dream Come True PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

3

Contents 09.23

Volume 102 Issue 9

8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60631 Phone: 773-992-4450 Fax: 773-992-4455

www.ensembleiq.com

44 GUEST VIEWPOINT

Laying the Operational Foundation for Autonomous Stores

BRAND MANAGEMENT VICE PRESIDENT & GROUP BRAND DIRECTOR Paula Lashinsky 917-446-4117 plashinsky@ensembleiq.com EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gina Acosta gacosta@ensembleiq.com

Retailers must keep pace with advancing technology — and the competition.

44

48 FRESH FOODS

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Emily Crowe ecrowe@ensembleiq.com

How retailers can take their prepared food and foodservice operations to the next level.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Chris Boyles, Michael Gabay, Mike Duff, Jenny McTaggart and Barbara Sax

51 SOLUTIONS

Kits can enable consumers to add a bit of professional pizzazz to home-baked or store-bought cakes, or help families create their own branded baked goods.

SENIOR DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Marian Zboraj mzboraj@ensembleiq.com SENIOR EDITOR Lynn Petrak lpetrak@ensembleiq.com

Prepared to the Max

Kitted Out for Baking Success

MANAGING EDITOR Bridget Goldschmidt bgoldschmidt@ensembleiq.com

ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, REGIONAL SALES MANAGER (INTERNATIONAL, SOUTHWEST, MI) Tammy Rokowski 248-514-9500 trokowski@ensembleiq.com

48

REGIONAL SALE MANGER Theresa Kossack (MIDWEST, GA, FL) 214-226-6468 tkossack@ensembleiq.com REGIONAL SALES MANAGER (EAST COAST) Dave Cappelli 312-505-3385 dcappelli@ensembleiq.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Terry Kanganis 201-855-7615 • Fax: 201-855-7373 tkanganis@ensembleiq.com CLASSIFIED PRODUCTION MANAGER Mary Beth Medley 856-809-0050 marybeth@marybethmedley.com

54 FROZEN FOODS PROJECT MANAGEMENT/PRODUCTION/ART ART DIRECTOR Bill Antkowiak bantkowiak@ensembleiq.com

Cooler Than Ever

Frozen dessert offerings play up healthy attributes, convenience and innovative flavors while still offering high quality and indulgence.

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION MANAGER Jackie Batson 224-632-8183 jbatson@ensembleiq.com MARKETING MANAGER Rebecca Welsby rwelsby@ensembleiq.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES LIST RENTAL mbriganti@anteriad.com SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS contact@progressivegrocer.com

56 BEVERAGES

Turning Points

The arrival of cold weather brings richer notes and the return of holiday beer and wine favorites.

51

60 GUEST VIEWPOINT

71 EQUIPMENT & DESIGN

Food Safety is Good for Business

Center Stage

An expert offers three steps for grocers to realign their food safety programs.

64 TECHNOLOGY

Leading Edge

New technologies in this area enable grocers to better connect with customers in an increasingly omnichannel world.

4 progressivegrocer.com

Current display solutions can help increase sales for grocers by highlighting products in a unique way.

64

CORPORATE OFFICERS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jennifer Litterick CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jane Volland CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Derek Estey CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Ann Jadown CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Joe Territo

PROGRESSIVE GROCER (ISSN 0033-0787, USPS 920-600) is published monthly by EnsembleIQ, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Single copy price $14, except selected special issues. Foreign single copy price $16, except selected special issues. Subscription: $125 a year; $230 for a two year supscription; Canada/Mexico $150 for a one year supscription; $270 for a two year supscription (Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40031729. Foreign $170 a one year supscrption; $325 for a two year supscription (call for air mail rates). Digital Subscription: $87 one year supscription; $161 two year supscription. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL 60631 and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to brand, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Copyright ©2023 EnsembleIQ All rights reserved, including the rights to reproduce in whole or in part. All letters to the editors of this magazine will be treated as having been submitted for publication. The magazine reserves the right to edit and abridge them. The publication is available in microform from University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations.

GOYA® Coconut Products offer the distinct flavor coconut lovers are looking for in their desserts and drinks. Silky and creamy, they add the tropical touch only the leading Latin brand can deliver.

Learn More!

Contact your GOYA representative or email salesinfo@goya.com | trade.goya.com

©2023 Goya Foods, Inc.

ok, New Lo at re Same G Taste

EDITOR’S NOTE

By Gina Acosta

Still Happy Places A DEFENSE OF SECURIT Y ME ASURES AT GROCERY STORES. few months ago, I was fortunate enough to attend the Retail Industry Leaders Association Asset Protection Conference, in Denver. The event featured a plethora of retailers, including many grocers, speaking about the security and theft challenges they’re facing in their physical locations (and online).

But they weren’t just talking about the challenges. They brought video, lots of video. Of angry shoppers throwing large items like small appliances at cashiers in an attempt to hurt them. Of shoppers pointing guns at employees while exiting the store, taking a cartful of merchandise without paying for it. Of people getting into shootouts and fistfights in parking lots. Of a man holding a large axe – yes, an axe – that he grabbed from the garden department and holding it near the head of a store manager.

If you work in retail or talk to retailers, then you know that this industry is facing unprecedented challenges when it comes to violence and theft.

That’s why I was stunned to read Stacy Torres’ August opinion column in The Los Angeles Times headlined: “Grocery stores used to be my happy place. Then they started locking up the detergent.”

Torres writes that grocery stores “used to be happy places,” but measures such as “locked glass cabinets … erode customers’ spirits and our social fabric, even though it’s unclear whether shoplifting has become the national crisis that some retailers claim.”

Truly a National Crisis

It’s crystal clear, however, that violence and theft in retail stores have become a national crisis. I invite Torres to read Progressive Grocer’s July 2023 special report on asset protection, written by Multimedia Editor Emily Crowe. According If you work in retail to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) or talk to retailers, 2022 National Retail Security Survey, overall then you know that retail shrink, when taken as a percentage of this industry is facing total retail sales in 2021, accounted for $94.5 unprecedented billion in losses, up from $90.8 billion in challenges when it 2020. According to the survey, external theft, excluding organized retail crime (ORC), has comes to violence become a greater priority for 74.1% of ex- and theft. ecutives, and ORC specifically has become a greater priority for 70.7% of executives. The survey asked participants how much ORC incidents had increased at their organizations between 2021 and 2022. On average, retailers reported that ORC incidents had increased 26.5% between 2021 and 2022.

The NRF survey also showed that eight out of 10 retailers reported increased incidents of violence and aggression this past year. Specifically, customer-on-employee violence has become a greater priority for 77.6% of participating executives, according to the survey.

6 progressivegrocer.com

Scan the QR Code for more information on the GroceryTech event and the Grocery Trends Study.

At the RILA conference, Jacob Gillette, regional asset protection manager for the eastern region at Meijer, told the audience that there has been a 400% increase in “reported customer threats” since 2018, with a sharp jump between 2021 and 2022.

The threats aren’t just a problem for retail staff, they’re also a problem for shoppers. An internal Meijer survey showed that customers are extremely anxious and worried about their safety in stores (specifically at the checkout and in parking lots); in response, retailers are rolling out more diverse security measures.

There are myriad reasons that violence and theft are increasing at retail, and there are myriad reasons that these are difficult problems to solve. I recommend that Torres read all of the work that FMI – The Food Industry Association, RILA, NRF and other trade groups, along with the law enforcement, social justice and other communities, are doing to help retailers solve these problems with the urgency and compassion that they deserve.

Accusing retailers of fabricating a crisis to make shopping less of a pleasure is absurd. The last thing retailers want to do is add friction to the path to purchase. Torres says that she enjoys the experience at grocers such Trader Joe’s, Smart & Final, and Nob Hill Foods. As a grocery store fan, she should support the endless efforts of retailers to keep their customer experiences enjoyable – and safe.

Gina Acosta Editor-In-Chief gacosta@ensembleiq.com

S AT I S F Y YO U R C U S T O M E R S ’

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IN-STORE EVENTS

Calendar S

11.23

M

National Raisin Bread Month National Roasting Month Native American Heritage Month Spinach and Squash Month

Diabetes Awareness Month Military Family Month National Peanut Butter Lovers Month National Pomegranate Month

T

W

T

F

S

1

2

3

4

National Cinnamon Day. Now’s the time to remind consumers of just how many uses this versatile and beloved spice has.

National Men Make Dinner Day. Provide a range of recipes, from idiotproof to fiendishly difficult, for males heading into the kitchen.

National Sandwich Day. Celebrations can take place at your in-store deli, with special discounts on popular offerings.

National Candy Day. Make sure better-for-you options are prominently featured in the sweets section.

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Daylight Saving Time ends. Don’t forget to fall back!

International Tongue Twister Day. Present a prize to the associate who can say the chosen phrase three times fast.

National Camp Day. Have trail mix, canned heat and more on hand yearround for those who never tire of exploring the wilderness — even when the weather turns cold.

Stir-Up Sunday.

Families can use this day to prepare traditional Christmas puddings together — with ingredients purchased at your store(s).

National Nachos Day. We’ll take ours with salsa and queso, please.

World Kindness Day. We could all use a little more of this.

Odd Socks Day. See what clashing patterns and colors your employees and shoppers come up with on this fun occasion.

National Craft Jerky Day. This perennially popular snack has received an artisan makeover of late, with plantbased alternatives also available.

8 progressivegrocer.com

Election Day. Give your associates time off today to cast a ballot.

National Spicy Guacamole Day. Encourage shoppers to add a little kick to their go-to dip.

World Fisheries Day. Check in with your suppliers to make sure that they’re complying with your company’s standards for sustainable seafood.

Giving Tuesday.

Set up donation bins so associates and shoppers alike can contribute food and clothes to worthy organizations.

National Cappucino Day. Your in-store barista will be busy whipping these up at a special price.

America Recycles Day. Share all you’ve done in this area and offer tips for consumers to ramp up their own ecofriendly efforts.

DrinksGiving.

There’s no reason that people can’t celebrate this informal occasion in their homes rather than at neighborhood bars.

Square Dancing Day. Judge a contest of do-si-do-ing couples, with the prize a shopping spree at your establishment.

Take time on Carl Sagan Day to admire the stars, in honor of the famed “Cosmos” astronomer, who was born on this day in 1934.

National Rural Health Day. Those of you out in the country can hold classes and distribute information to help keep your customers fit.

Thanksgiving. If you’re open today, have holiday fare available in the breakroom for your hardworking associates.

National Mississippi Day. Highlight all of the great food and beverage products from the Magnolia State.

Forget Me Not Day. What better way to mark this occasion than with an arrangement of this lovely flower of remembrance from the floral department?

Guinness World Records Day. Thinking of breaking the existing record for the world’s largest submarine sandwich?

Go to it!

Maize Day. It’s what you — well, honestly, most of us in this part of the world — call corn.

Singles Day. This Chinese observance, which encourages unattached people to treat themselves to all manner of goodies, is ripe for adoption in the United States.

National Princess Day. Shoppers of all ages who come in their full royal regalia get a discount.

Shopping Reminder Day. It’s only a month until Christmas, so nudge customers to start thinking about what they need to get.

ZIP UP BEVERAGE PROFITS With The Most Versatile System for Grab-and-Go Beverage Sales.

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2 FILL IT Perfect for all beverages including alcohol

Fill it with product. ZIP Track® maintains its width accurately for the entire length of facing without the need for a rear anchoring system.

3 SELL IT Deploy ZIP Track® for many different size and shape beverages.

Use in multiple storewide categories

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CUSTOM DEPTH

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ADJUSTABLE WIDTH

match any shelf depth

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Shelf Stoppers

General Merchandise

Basket Facts

Total Department Performance General Merchandise

Latest 52 Wks W/E 08/05/23

Latest 52 Wks YA W/E 08/06/22

Latest 52 Wks 2YA W/E 08/07/21

$46,321,384,598

$49,491,416,856

$50,075,811,283

Top General Merchandise Categories by Dollar Sales Kitchen Appliances

Household Storage

Home Appliances

Batteries

Utensils and Accessories

$5,000,000,000

How much is the average American household spending per trip on various general merchandise items versus the year-ago period?

4,000,000,000

3,000,000,000

$16.66

on all general merchandise items, down 1.1% compared with a year ago

2,000,000,000

1,000,000,000

0

Latest 52 Wks YA W/E 08/06/22

Latest 52 Wks - W/E 08/05/23

Latest 52 Wks 2YA W/E 08/07/21

Source: Nielsen, Total U.S. (All outlets combined) – includes grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers, select dollar stores, select warehouse clubs and military commissaries (DeCA) for the 52 weeks ending Aug. 5, 2023

$78.96

on home appliances, up 1.3% compared with a year ago

Cross-Merch Candidates Wine

Appliances

Coating Mixes and Crumbs

Fully Cooked Meat

Food Storage

Lighting

Batteries and Accessories

Nuts and Seeds

Paper and Plastics

Beer, Flavored Malt Beverages and Cider

$55.87

on kitchen appliances, down 7.5% compared with a year ago

Generational Snapshot Which cohort is spending, on average, the most per trip on kitchen appliances?

$12.56

on household storage, up 2.1% compared with a year ago Millennials

Gen Xers

Boomers

The Greatest Generation

$58.23

$56.66

$58.24

$50.25

Source: Nielsen Homescan, Total U.S., 52 weeks ending July 29, 2023

10 progressivegrocer.com

Source: Nielsen Homescan, Total U.S., 52 weeks ending July 29, 2023

MINTEL CATEGORY INSIGHTS

Global New Products Database

Salty Snacks Market Overview

The salty snack market continues to grow as consumers increasingly reach for a range of snacks.

The market consists of many products with relatively accessible price points that help shield it from inflation; rising prices have still played their role, however, not only boosting sales growth, but also affecting consumption habits for some.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.MINTEL.COM OR CALL 800-932-0400

Key Issues

Consumers are most likely to have positive experience with snack flavors that have some grounding in the familiar, such as a flavor from another food or a combination with something they have already tried.

Compared with women, men snack more indulgently and are less engaged with healthy ingredients, so while women view snacking as an opportunity to make better-for-you choices, a healthy choice for men means omitting a snack completely.

Health and premium go hand in hand, and across generations, naturally flavored and recognizable ingredients signal premium in snacks.

The use of salty snacks to meet more diverse needs, combined with rising prices, will contribute to continued growth in the market; Mintel forecasts that the salty snack market will reach $38.2 billion by 2027.

What Consumers Want, and Why Motivation for new trial via education and creating familiar descriptions or combinations are paramount for emerging ingredients such as white truffle and bulgogi when connecting with snack consumers.

With flavor driving snack choice most broadly, brands can maximize their audience and occasion considerations by ensuring that healthy ingredients don’t overshadow flavor and taste, as those seeking better-for-you items will typically take extra time to scrutinize a label.

The added value of health benefits helps to justify premium price points, and brands should be clear in their messaging in regard to better-for-you claims and ingredient listings to capture the most consumers.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

11

ALL’S WELLNESS

By Barbara Ruhs, MS, RDN

Kicking Bad Food Habits PSYCHOLOGY MAY BE THE KE Y TO MAKING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AL CHANGES. hen it comes to kicking bad food habits, knowledge of psychology is a powerful tool that can help in the pursuit of improved health. Most people who have tried to break a bad habit or modify behavior can attest to the difficulty in making changes stick.

This article focuses on the process of behavior change and the steps that can help make success possible.

Why Is It So Hard to Change Behaviors?

Recently, the “Hidden Brain” podcast featured Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford Medical School psychiatrist, researcher and author of the new book “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.” The July 2023 episode, “The Paradox of Pleasure,” provides an understanding of how our brains are hardwired for pleasure. Dopamine, also called the “feel-good chemical,” is part of the reward system in our brains that helped us to evolve and survive for thousands of years. In modern times, we don’t have to overcome many obstacles to find food or pleasure, and as a result, this reward system is triggered when consuming any food, whether it’s good or bad for us. Have you ever wondered why it’s hard to stop at one potato chip? That’s dopamine at work. When we give into cravings and urges repeatedly, our tolerance for dopamine increases, meaning that we need more to experience the same level of pleasure.

To overcome the powerful influence of dopamine in reinforcing bad habits, Dr. Lembke recommends a 30day dopamine “fast” to break the cycle of dependence.

Going “cold turkey” is an effective method to recalibrate dopamine levels that can help us to manage addictive behaviors, but it doesn’t help us with the process of changing or improving habits. In contrast, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear offers a four-step process that can help anyone break bad habits and form new, healthier ones.

This four-step process can be viewed in two phases: The problem phase (steps one and two) and the solution phase (steps three and four).

The fourth and final step is the reward, or the end goal that completes the habit cycle.

Example: You satisfy your craving to eat a chocolate chip cookie. Buying a cookie becomes associated with taking a break from work.

Have you ever wondered why it’s hard to stop at one potato chip? That’s dopamine at work.

The first step is the cue, or piece of information (trigger) that signals to the brain that there’s a reward to be found.

Example: You smell freshly baked cookies.

The second step is the craving — the motivational force behind every habit.

Example: You begin to crave a chocolate chip cookie.

The third step is the response, or the actual habit that results from the craving.

Example: You buy a cookie on a break from work.

12 progressivegrocer.com

Breaking down the process of behavior change into steps and identifying small practical substitutions, or “nudges,” can make it possible to adopt healthier behaviors. As an example, to eat more fruits and vegetables, use avocado instead of butter or cheese at meals to boost fresh produce intake. Nudges are intended to be subtle to facilitate and automate desired behavior changes. Practice helps! In response to the cue and the craving in the cookie example, how could you automate a healthier response and reward? Troubleshooting in advance can help you avoid automated dopamine-driven responses.

According to “Atomic Habits”: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Enlist the support of a registered dietitian/nutritionist who can help every step of the way with successful behavior change.

Barbara Ruhs, MS, RDN, is the owner of MarketRD.com, a marketing agency that provides nutrition and health strategy to food brands. A former retail dietitian (RD), she launched and directed an annual supermarket RD symposium for eight years. Connect @BarbRuhsRD on Instagram and LinkedIn.

PATAGONIA PURE & PROUD OUR SALMON IS RAISED IN THE PURE ANTARCTIC WATERS OF COASTAL PATAGONIA. As stewards of this remarkable environment, we proudly produce high-quality salmon using humane and environmentally responsible aquaculture. We are committed to protecting and preserving the environment where we live so future generations can prosper.

Salmon farming is FAR MORE EFFICIENT than other forms of farmed terrestrial protein. It only takes 1.2-1.5 pounds of feed to produce one pound of farmed salmon versus 6-10 pounds of feed to produce one pound of beef. The lower the feed conversion ratio, the better. Expansion of salmon farming and salmon consumption can help address food security as global populations rise, while having a far lower impact on the environment.

1.2-1.5 lbs.

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This helps protect fresh water resources and supplies.1

Farmed salmon has a

LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT.2 Studies show that aquaculture is climate-friendly, requiring fewer crops and less land area than non-marine protein production.

and indirectly employing an estimated 40,000.

Salmon aquaculture is the number one economic and social driver in the Patagonia region of southern Chile. Continuous improvement of our practice has accelerated in recent years. We are proud to be the second-largest producer of salmon in the world.

For information about origin, aquaculture, and recipe ideas visit ChileanSalmon.org Follow us @ChileanSalmonMC 1 https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/freshwater-systems 2 https://globalsalmoninitiative.org/en/about-salmon-farming/climate-change/ 3 https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/documents/Infographic_World%20Oceans%20Day_1.pdf

FEATURE

2023 Editors’ Picks

THE GOOD STUFF

Progressive Grocer once more highlights the best new products of the past year.

By Progressive Grocer Staff

14 progressivegrocer.com

B

ecause we’re not only editors, but also enthusiastic shoppers of food and consumables, we look forward eagerly to Progressive Grocer’s annual Editors’ Picks program, where we get to read about some of the most creative products introduced in the grocery channel in the past year.

Spanning the entire store, the products that we ultimately chose as this year’s slate of Editors’ Picks provided innovation in spades, as well as a tangible boost to their respective categories, thanks to creative marketing and merchandising tactics.

Among the entries, plant-based items continued to stand out as manufacturers worked to refine offerings in alignment with consumers’ evolving needs. Plantbased cheese in particular has started to come into its own, as evidenced by such stellar submissions as Armored Fresh Almond Milk Cheese Cube, Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free Cream Cheese and SimplyV Plant-based Cream Cheese. Boldly flavored snack varieties also made an impressive showing, as illustrated by knockout noshes like Pork King Good Old-Timey Butterscotch Pork Rinds, Rob’s Backstage Popcorn Priyanka’s Mumbai Nights (a celebrity brand founded by the Jonas Brothers), and New Orleans brand Zapp’s Sinfully-Seasoned Pretzel Stix in Voodoo and Jazzy Honey Mustard flavors. Additionally, we editors were once more bowled over by the sheer breadth and creativity of private-brand products, with Albertsons, Hy-Vee, Schnucks, Southeastern Grocers, United Natural Foods Inc. and, of course, Topco Associates all presenting superior items.

Along with the excellence of the products themselves, we were pleased to see how many companies were making definite strides in terms of greater sustainability, whether in sourcing, manufacturing or packaging. Along with generating good press from the likes of us – never a bad thing – such positive moves engender consumer trust and help the planet heal.

What could be better than that?

Read on to find out more about the 84 extraordinary products that made the cut as PG’s 2023 Editors’ Picks.

Actual Veggies The Actual Truffle Burger

Suggested retail price: $8.99 per box of two patties The fi rst truffl e burger sold at retail, this plant-based product from Actual Veggies is made with real truffl e, shiitake mushrooms, black beans, spinach, white quinoa, and other vegetables and legumes, along with natural seasonings and herbs. Consumers can cook the patties on the grill, stovetop or oven, or in an air fryer. Each serving packs 9 grams of protein and 8 grams of fi ber, and the burgers are free of the top nine allergens, cholesterol, GMOs and conventional fi llers. Early retail fans include The Fresh Market, which featured the product in its monthly magazine, and Heinen’s, which spotlighted the item in its weekly newsletter.

Armored Fresh Almond Milk Cheese Cube-Plain

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 3.17-ounce package Made with zero-dairy lactic acid and almond milk, this innovative alt-dairy product from Armored Fresh was formulated by a team of scientists working with a tasting panel of Michelin Star-rated chefs.

The product— which looks and tastes like the real deal — stands out at retail, with a compact water-resistant box containing 12 individually wrapped cubes. Following a successful launch at more than 100 New York City-area grocery stores, the cubes are being promoted at trade shows and through billboards, public relations efforts and social media. Distribution is growing as the company works with additional retailers such as Kroger.

Barilla Chickpea Orzo

Suggested retail price: $3.49 per 10-ounce box A rice-shaped pasta made only from chickpeas, this versatile product from a venerable pasta brand can be used in place of traditional semolina flour orzo in both hot and cold dishes.

Nutrition is a key selling point, as the product delivers 21 grams of protein per 3.5-ounce serving, without any gluten. Those benefits are called out on the packaging, which is a departure from Barilla’s signature blue box. To support the launch, Barilla worked closely with food media and influencers to net 4.8 million impressions and is executing a national celebrity-based consumer campaign this fall.

BobaBam Strawberry at Home Boba Kit

Suggested retail price: $7.99 per 9.2-ounce package There’s an interesting backstory to this product, which was conceived during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when founder and Chairman Bob Yau struggled to find a boba experience for his family. Carving out an essentially new category, the BobaBam kit makes at-home drinks fast and easy, with a taste mirroring the boba shop experience.

Users can create Taiwanese boba in about a minute, adding it to beverages that complement the tapioca balls and fresh strawberry purée flavor. The product is vegan, glutenand nut-free, non-GMO, kosher, and halal, and contains about two-thirds less sugar than similar boba shop drinks.

Bob’s Red Mill “0.0” Flour

Suggested retail price: $7.79 per 3-pound bag The secret is out: The trick to pizza crusts with puffy, bubbly edges and pasta with a stretchy texture and soft chew is flour made with a powder-fine grind. Bob’s Red Mill has taken this type of flour, which is commonly found in Italian specialty markets, and brought it to traditional grocery store shelves, where consumers can buy it and bring it home to make a delicate dough for homemade pastas and pizzas.

Available in a resealable package, the “0.0” flour is made with fine wheat and contains only a moderate amount of gluten that contributes to its functionality and ease of use.

Brazi Bites Everything Brazilian Cheese Bread

Suggested retail price: $7.49 per 11.5-ounce package All of the seasoning, none of the gluten — that’s a big part of the appeal of this cheddarand-parmesan bread made with seasoning composed of sesame and poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt. It’s a versatile product that can be cooked quickly in an air fryer or an oven for breakfast, a snack or an appetizer. This pick is close to a sure thing, as the company used consumer insights from an interactive social media campaign to bring it to market within months. The launch was then supported by a social media campaign that leveraged the anticipation of the crowd-sourced fl avor choice.

Bubbies Ube Mochi Ice Cream

Suggested retail price range: $5.99-$6.99 per 6-count box This item refl ects trending frozen desserts, with a unique ube (purple yam) fl avor and a popular Japanese-style mochi format. The taste and enticing postcard-themed package aren’t the only things that make the ice cream product stand out: It’s a clean-label dairy-based offering that’s rBST-free, Non-GMO Project Verifi ed, gluten-free, kosher, free of major allergens, and made without corn syrup or added colors. The exclusive launch at Sprouts Farmers Market was accompanied by a multichannel approach that included digital sampling, social and print media, shopper marketing programs, and partnerships with key infl uencers.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

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Chefs Life Cooking Oil Spray

Bumble Bee Quick Catch Tuna Bowls

Suggested retail price range: $3.19 per 6-ounce bowl Taking the convenience of tuna to the next level, these ready-to-eat meals (complete with a spork!) can be enjoyed hot or cold and come in three varieties: Mediterranean Pasta with Tomatoes and Green Beans; Teriyaki with Jasmine Rice, Chickpeas and Bell Peppers; and Southwest-Style with Brown Rice, Black Beans and Corn. The product aligns with the popular bowl format and with continuing interest in healthy eating, coming in at 12-15 grams of protein and 210-270 calories per bowl. Bumble Bee emphasizes the sustainability of the product line, noting that the tuna is wild-caught and dolphin-safe. The launch helped propel its category by 21.5% during its introduction phase.

Butterball Hearty Turkey Sausage

Suggested retail price: $5.49 per pound Billed as an alternative to traditional beef and pork products, this bunlength turkey sausage has a similar snap, bite and taste, but contains 70% less fat. Natural hardwood smoke provides the flavor base for the two varieties of Old World Smoked and Polish Style. The precooked links can be prepared on the grill, skillet or microwave in minutes and can be used in one-pan recipes, skillet dishes or pasta meals. Having introduced the product during grilling season with fanfare that included marketing and earned media efforts, Butterball is planning to widen distribution this fall.

Carbone Fine Food Marinara Delicato

Suggested retail price: $8.99 per 24-ounce jar How’s this for authentic? Carbone’s latest chef-crafted sauce is made with imported tomatoes handpicked from the rich volcanic soil in the San Marzano area of Italy, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. While that part of the story evokes the Old World, the sauce meets contemporary needs, given that it’s made with non-GMO ingredients and zero sugar and is designed for consumers with food sensitivities, including those who are allium intolerant or follow a low-FODMAP diet. Those attributes were highlighted in a launch campaign that included dietary influencers. Subsequently, the product is already the third-strongest flavor in the Carbone portfolio.

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 5-ounce bottle Founded by chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey, this product elevates traditional cooking spray. It’s a premium blend of avocado, second-pressed olive, sunflower and grapeseed oils that provides a neutral flavor, with a smoke point that can withstand heat. The clean ingredients are mirrored in the packaging, with a white backdrop and simple design that stand out on shelves.

Home cooks can read the “use this for” label to learn what and how to employ the spray.

Shoppers can choose from Brown Butter or Original varieties for use in such applications as desserts, pastas and seafood.

Chocxo Dark Chocolate Coconut Cups

Suggested retail price range: $4.99-$6.99 per 98-gram (about 3.5-ounce) bag Launched at the beginning of the year, when healthy eating is a top resolution, this product allows consumers to indulge in a sweet treat while minding their sugar intake. The cups are made with organic coconut combined with white chocolate and enrobed in 85% cacao dark chocolate from sustainably sourced beans, with just 80 calories and 3 grams of sugar per serving. Chocxo partners with rePurpose Global to be a Certified Plastic Neutral company. Building on its initial success, the line will soon expand with three additional flavors set to debut during the holiday season.

Coconut Secret Organic Spicy Coconut Aminos

Suggested retail price: $9.49 per 10-ounce bottle Reflecting demand for natural products and culinary applications, this Asian-inspired item is made with organic sap from the Philippines that’s naturally fermented and blended with salt and other seasonings. Used as a sauce, marinade or glaze, the versatile product is an alternative to traditional soy sauce. It contains 72% less sodium than the leading soy sauce brand and is USDA Certified Organic, Certified Gluten Free, Non-GMO Project Verified, Whole30 Approved and kosher. A vibrant package with an enticing photo of a stir-fry dish made with the sauce catches shoppers’ attention at the point of sale.

Challenge Butter Snack Spread-Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

Suggested retail price: $2.99 per 6.5-ounce container Developed by Challenge Dairy Products Inc. with ingredients from Lawry’s, this is the only seasoned salt-flavored butter on the market and comes from the first licensing partnership in the butter category. The novel partnership led to a dairy offering that combines freshly churned Challenge Butter with Lawry’s signature blend of salt, herbs and spices, in a package that includes a QR code. Consumers can use the product as a spread, topping or drizzle. A launch campaign with food influencers resulted in more than 10 million views and 650,000 engagements, and the manufacturer supported the introduction with in-store sampling and signage.

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Congratulations Topco Owners!

Your dedication to partnering together to build best-in-class brands means big wins in every aisle for your stores and for the shoppers in your communities!

To learn more, visit topco.com/members

Cooperativa Sacali

Suggested retail price: $18.50 per 12-ounce bag Heirloom Coffee Roasters uses a proprietary culinary roast it dubs the “mirepoix method” to add another layer of flavor to this gourmet coffee. Essentially, the first sip has its own flavor that’s different from the rest of the cup, making the drinking experience unique and layered. This is the company’s first Regenerative Organic Certified coffee, sourced from farms that use regenerative agricultural practices. The 100% paper foodservice coffee packaging is earth-friendlier, too, containing no plastic or metal. To help tell the story, Heirloom Coffee Roasters focuses on store associate education as part of its marketing and promotional efforts.

DeeBee’s Organics Non-Dairy & Organic Gelato Pops

Suggested retail price: Starting at $6.99 per 20-count pack of 0.27-fluid-ounce pops To achieve the creamy taste and mouthfeel of dairy gelato, DeeBee’s Organics uses high-quality ingredients, including coconut milk and organic fruit. The product may have a lot of “frees” — free from dairy, refined sugar, artificial color, artificial flavors and preservatives — but it’s still an indulgence and available in a convenient shelf-stable form for on-the-go noshing.

Each colorful package contains 20 pops, and the product comes in mango, pineapple and lime varieties. This sophisticated addition to the DeeBee’s line helped the brand land in the top organic ice pop spot this past summer, according to SPINS market data.

Dos Equis Lime & Salt ZERO

Suggested retail price: $11 per 6-pack of 12-fluid-ounce cans (prices may vary) It may be zero in terms of alcohol content, but this offering is a hero for those seeking a lowABV version of the iconic beer brand’s Lime & Salt brew. Coming in at less than 0.5% alcohol per volume and just 73 calories per can, the beverage fits today’s “damp” lifestyles while delivering on the flavor of the original beer. Additionally, the packaging is designed to appeal to younger fans, based on studies showing that Gen Z consumers shop with their eyes first.

Sampling was a big part of the rollout, offered to influencers, members of the media and consumers through events and regional activations.

Filippo Berio Sustainable Select EVOO Line-Hearty Balance and Smooth Harmony

Suggested retail price: $19.99 per 25.3-fluid-ounce bottle These oils are sourced from fruit raised in sustainably nurtured groves that apply third-party certified integrated farming methods. The fruit is harvested selectively to ensure only fine, ripe olives are chosen. Hearty Balance is highly aromatic and richly complex, with a medium intensity.

Grass aromas and a slightly leafy taste make it ideal for bringing depth to fish dishes. Smooth Harmony has hints of fresh grass, artichoke and tomato. It features a slightly spicy aftertaste for finishing meat dishes. QR codes on the bottles trace each oil’s field-to-bottle journey, so consumers can learn about that batch’s olive grove, harvesting and bottling.

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Filippo Berio Vegan Basil Pesto and Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 6.7-ounce jar Providing more options in better-for-you (and planet-friendly) eating, these products use tofu to mimic the cheesy taste in traditional Italian pestos. Vegan Basil Pesto emulates the brand’s product created from a traditional Genovese recipe incorporating Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano cheeses, while Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto is based on a Sicilian classic featuring Grana Padano.

To provide the same taste and texture and maintain protein content, Filippo Berio invested in recipe development and blind taste tests to ensure that the products were comparable to the original versions. They contain only plantbased, dairy-free ingredients, and are certified by The Vegan Society.

Food Club Maple Bacon and Applewood Bacon

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 16-ounce package Topco’s Food Club is one of the very few private label brands offering bacon in these flavor profiles, providing shoppers with such products at an affordable own-brand price.

To maintain extreme freshness, both bacon varieties are vacuum-sealed. Supported by a combination of Food Club in-store and online marketing tools, Applewood Bacon and Maple Bacon are well positioned for cross-promotional opportunities with other Food Club products. Additionally, online Food Club recipe ideas for the Applewood and Maple varieties are helping build performance for the flavored segment in the bacon aisle and for the Food Club brand in general.

Food Club Carolina Reaper Monterey Jack Cheese

Suggested retail price range: $2.99-$3.49 per 6-ounce package Free from artificial flavors and certified synthetic colors, Food Club Carolina Reaper Monterey Jack Cheese from Topco is a good source of calcium with the spicy triple bite of jalapeño, habanero and Carolina reaper peppers. It offers a practical, right-priced solution for spicing up meals or snacks. According to Topco, the national spicy cheese segment represents $3.59 million in annual sales, up 15.8% versus last year with own brands No. 1 in the segment. Plus, with slices ( up 21%) and shreds (up 14%) seeing strong growth, Food Club Carolina Reaper Monterey Jack Cheese has proved to be a hot commodity.

CHALLENGE BUTTER SNACK SPREADS

A PERFECT MATCH, FRESH CHALLENGE BUTTER WITH THE BOLD FLAVOR OF THE ORIGINAL LAWRY’S SEASONED SALT.

Fresh Press Farms Sunflower Oil-High Oleic

Suggested retail price: $8.99 per 16.4-fluid-ounce bottle Locally sourced and cold pressed, Fresh Press Farms specifically uses high-oleic sunflower seeds for its oil, which contains healthier monounsaturated fats and lower saturated fats. Fresh Press Farms’ oil is the only sunflower oil certified Heart Healthy by the American Heart Association, and it’s free from fillers or artificial preservatives.

Additionally, cold-pressed oils are never overheated and never use chemicals, allowing the company to produce its oil with the highest flavors, aromas and health benefits. For packaging, Fresh Press Farms uses proprietary aluminum bottles that are not only sustainable, but also endlessly recyclable.

Food Club Spiral Sliced Ham

Suggested retail price: $2.99 per pound Spiral Sliced Honey Ham, Brown Sugar Ham, Deluxe Honey Glazed Ham and Deluxe Brown Sugar Glazed Ham are all available in natural juices to provide fl avorful holiday options at an own-brand price.

Festive foil overwraps, color-coded for easy selection based on each fl avor profi le, encircle each holiday ham. By aggregating Food Club Spiral Sliced Holiday Ham purchases, Topco positioned its members to win on quality, price and selection. Subsequently, Topco member stores were not only able to compete with the national brands, but also with private label brands at larger chain stores.

Forager Project Honey Alternative Probiotic Cashewmilk Yogurt

Suggested retail price: $6.99 per 24-ounce container Forager Project Honey Alternative Cashewmilk Yogurt is the first honey-, bee- and dairy-free yogurt. Instead of using real honey, it uses fruit juices and organic cane sugar to replicate honey’s sweet and distinctive flavor, taking bees out of the equation. Adding a honey alternative flavor to Forager’s yogurt lineup allows native pollinators and the planet to thrive and sends a message to consumers that caring for bees equates to caring for the planet. This vegan yogurt is made with cashews that are always organic, ethically sourced and sustainably farmed. Forager’s plant-based yogurt is also free of gluten and soy.

Fresh Cravings Fire Roasted Salsa

Suggested retail price: $3.43 per 14-ounce tub Fresh Cravings’ versatile salsas feature unique fl avor profi les in both taste and texture. With two new fl avors, Fire Roasted Red and Fire Roasted Avocado Salsa, Fresh Cravings captures the smoky taste profi le that consumers are seeking. Avocado in chilled salsa is rare as it is, but Fresh Cravings ups the ante by using a blend of subtly sweet tropical and creamy Hass avocados to create a unique taste. This is coupled with zesty roasted tomatillos, adding a tangy fl avor. Using creative branding that includes fun colors and imagery evoking plants, Fresh Cravings products pop in the produce section, differentiating them from others in the category.

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Full Circle Market Breakfast Rounds

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 15.9-ounce package According to Mintel, 54% of shoppers are actively looking for better-foryou breakfast items. Available in apple, blueberry or cranberry flavors, Topco’s Full Circle Market Breakfast Rounds now provide shoppers with a convenient choice within the fresh bakery section. Although some shoppers might not intuitively consider shopping the in-store bakery for their healthier breakfast needs, Breakfast Rounds are made with real fruit and offer a good source of fiber and 6 grams of protein per serving. In addition to being a ready-to-go breakfast option, they’re also ideal as a better-for-you afternoon snack. Further, Breakfast Rounds offer a change of pace from traditional bakery offerings.

Gold Standard Ready To Drink Protein Shake

Suggested retail price: $8.49 per 4-pack of 11-fluid-ounce cartons The Gold Standard Ready To Drink Protein Shake offers the same quality as the brand’s 100% Gold Standard Whey protein powder, but in an on-the-go format. The convenient item features 24 grams of protein per serving, 24 essential vitamins and minerals, and only 1 gram of sugar. A 360-degree marketing campaign included influencers across the NIL (name, image and likeness) college athlete space, while the More of You in You campaign featured U.S. pro tennis star Taylor Fritz touting the protein shake as his preferred recovery drink. Additionally, a large sampling program kicked off this summer with Volo Sports, and a fall college sampling program is also scheduled.

Good Foods Grab & Go Chunky Guacamole

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 2.75-ounce pack Grab & Go Chunky Guacamole addresses increased consumer interest in convenient, better-for-you snacks without sacrificing flavor and freshness.

Available in a single-serve container and packaged using high-pressure processing (HPP) technology, the product features Good Foods’ Chunky Guacamole paired with corn tortilla chips. It’s Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan and gluten-free, and contains about 180 calories.

The use of HPP technology to seal in flavor and freshness without the use of preservatives also helps differentiate the product from its closest competitors. Overall, Grab & Go Chunky Guacamole is empowering consumers to feel good about snacking on the go throughout the day.

Gustare Vita Alfredo Macaroni Bowl

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 14-ounce bowl Hy-Vee’s private label Gustare Vita Alfredo Macaroni Bowl is the only authentic Italian all-in-one prepared meal in its category. Made with high-quality ingredients sourced directly from Italy, the item surpasses comparable items that are too often filled with preservatives and bland flavors. The entrée not only takes flavor to the next level, but also offers convenience and sustainability. It comes in a compostable bowl, accompanied by a fork, and is ready to eat after a mere 8 minutes in the microwave, making it an easy and affordable solution for busy consumers. It’s performing so well that Hy-Vee is adding two gluten-free pasta options to the line.

Good2Grow Snackers

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 2-ounce package Snackers combine fun and nutrition with wholesome ingredients and kid-favorite character tops from Disney, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Comcast Universal and more. The single-serve packages feature better-for-kids ingredients like baked oat-and-wheat crackers in two “kid-approved” flavors — cinnamon and chocolate — while the reclosable lids allow for mess-free, on-the-go snacking. Good2grow’s relationships with its licensed partners means that, after snack time, the product can function as a reusable toy, which represents an ongoing value to parents. Also, the brand’s most engaged consumers can collect its various characters, creating a long-lasting experience for families well beyond Good2grow’s first touchpoint.

Harvest Snaps Selects Baked Navy Bean Snacks

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 4.2-ounce bag Calbee America’s Harvest Snaps Selects brings a new set of health-conscious consumers to the salty snack aisle with its Navy Bean Snacks. The item offers the best of both worlds — better-for-you plant-based nutrition and great taste. With flavors like zesty Loaded Taco, smooth and spicy White Cheddar Jalapeño, and tangy-sweet Honey Dijon, the crunchy snack line is also ideal for those with food allergies. It’s gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, and doesn’t contain wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts, eggs, artificial flavors or preservatives. To maximize taste and nutritional value, Harvest Snaps sources its navy beans whole and mills them in-house, providing a hearty 4-5 grams of plant protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

Gotham Greens Dips

Suggested retail price: $6.49 per 6.5-ounce container Available in Green Goddess, Spinach Artichoke, Tzatziki and Green Harissa flavors, the Gotham Greens Dips line features various fresh greens and herbs to create herbaceous and bold twists on some well-known dip flavors.

Gotham Greens Dips are 100% plant-based, dairy- and gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and never heated. There are also no artificial fillers, flavors, gums or preservatives. While most plant-based dips contain water as the first or second ingredient, Gotham Greens Dips contain a cauliflower-and-chickpea blend for a creamy texture that rivals that of dairy-based products. With its dips, vertical-farming company Gotham Greens is offering complementary products across the store, driving overall brand awareness and cross-purchase.

Hope Foods Hummus

Suggested retail price: $4.89 per 8-ounce container Hope Foods Hummus is made by the first and only dip and spread brand to be Certified Plastic Neutral. By partnering with rePurpose Global, the company ensures the recovery of the equivalent amount of plastic used in its product packaging. Meanwhile, the hummus itself is made from organic and non-GMO ingredients. Hope Foods uses high-pressure processing and cold-pressure technology to maintain a homemade fresh taste without compromising texture or flavor. Its hummus also offers health benefits through the addition of organic flaxseed oil, making it functional and nutritious with a natural source of plant-based omega-3s.

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In Good Hands Protein Puffs

Suggested retail price: $3.69 per approx. 1-ounce bag As one of the fi rst milk protein-packed savory snacking options in the chip aisle, In Good Hands Protein Puffs push the limits of better-for-you snacking options.

The snack is created by dairy farmers who use the nutritional benefi ts of milk protein from Real California Milk. Consequently, each gluten-free bag of puffs provides a whopping 12 grams of milk protein, along with only 1 gram of sugar per serving.

Designed for grab-and-go convenience, the puffs feature a cheesy, crunchy texture that delivers on fl avor, making them a healthier — but still tasty — alternative to other cheesy snack options on the market.

Jeni’s Biscuits With The Boss Ice Cream

Suggested retail price: $12 per pint Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams teamed with Apple and Warner Bros.

Discovery Global Consumer Products on Biscuits With The Boss, a limited-edition ice cream inspired by the Emmy award-winning series (and PG’s unofficial favorite TV show) “Ted Lasso.”

Referencing the quirky soccer coach’s daily ritual of bringing homemade shortbread cookies for his employer, the salty-sweet offering was packed with shortbread cookie crumbles for a creamy, crumbly eating experience.

The most successful launch in Jeni’s history, Biscuits With The Boss garnered considerable attention not only from national media and consumers, but also from the program’s actors themselves, creating a true cultural moment.

Kevin’s Natural Foods Beef Stroganoff

Suggested retail price: $13.99 per 26-ounce package A convenient meal ready in just five minutes, Kevin’s Paleo Certified, gluten-and soyfree Beef Stroganoff with no refined sugar pairs the brand’s signature flavorful sauce with ultra-tender sous-vide top sirloin beef and cauliflower pasta that looks and tastes like traditional noodles. The product was promoted via social media as well as traditional public relations efforts and traditional media, bringing new health-conscious shoppers to the category with the promise of healthy eating without compromise. Additionally, the clean packaging stands out in a busy section of the store.

Kind Soft Baked Granola

La Terra Fina Jalapeño Pepper-Jelly Dip & Spread

Suggested retail price: $5.49 per 10-ounce container Sweet, tangy and somewhat spicy, this dip blends smooth cream cheese with sweet and sour cherries, cranberries and jalapeño peppers. Key to the versatile item’s success is its fusion of flavors as Asian foods and spices continue to grow in popularity in the United States.

Jalapeño Pepper-Jelly Dip & Spread was one of four new flavors launched in spring 2023, with a strong retail distribution plan launched in time for the busy summer entertaining season. Like all La Terra Fina products, Jalapeño Pepper-Jelly Dip & Spread contains no preservatives or artificial colors or flavors and comes in a fully recyclable container.

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 11-ounce package Featuring 100% whole grain oats as its top ingredient, Kind Soft Baked Granola has a unique soft and chewy texture, in contrast to the crunchy granola in the brand’s Healthy Grains granola portfolio. The gluten-free, low-sodium product also features such craveable ingredients as dark chocolate chunks, creamy peanut butter and chopped nuts for an indulgent breakfast experience. Soft Baked Granola was supported through a 360-degree integrated marketing campaign encompassing dedicated product and lifestyle assets, paid media and search campaigns, and earned media outreach. There were also specific in-store shippers for the product and a robust digital-shelf presence on Kind’s Amazon page.

McDaniel’s Café Espresso

La Clare Rolled Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese

Suggested retail price: $8.99 per 8-ounce package Made by the only 100% domestically produced goat cheese brand in the country, La Clare Rolled Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese starts with fresh, local Wisconsin goat milk, delivering a flavor that’s both familiar and appealing to many consumers. La Clare promoted Rolled Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese through its social media accounts, as well as targeted digital advertising to drive awareness to the stores that have the product available for sale. The cheese comes in a clear plastic film that displays the entire log so consumers can see what they’re purchasing, with an easy-peel film for convenience and ease in opening.

LesserEvil Space Balls-Interstellar Cheddar

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 7-ounce bag Furthering LesserEvil’s expansion into kid-friendly offerings, Interstellar Cheddar Space Balls feature nondairy seasoning that adds cheesy flavor to air-puffed whole grain organic corn balls swirled with avocado oil and Himalayan salt. The Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, minimally processed snack offers a better-for-you alternative to a mainstream favorite, while its sustainably sourced ingredients support LesserEvil’s mission to make products that are better for both people and the environment. The brand is supporting Space Balls through various marketing channels, including public relations efforts, social media marketing and advertising strategies. Additionally, the biodegradable packaging features an innovative space-themed design.

Love Beets Perfectly Pickled Sliced Beets

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 6.5-ounce package Created for beet fans and novices alike, Love Beets’ organic Perfectly Pickled Sliced Beets are steam-cooked until tender, peeled, sliced and ready to eat. Boasting a shelf-life guarantee of 36 days, the USAgrown product is a fresh and convenient option for consumers seeking quick, easy and better-for-you solutions. The slightly sweet premium beets can be added to salads, bowls and sandwiches, or just eaten right out of the resealable package. Love Beets’ lineup is found in the refrigerated value-added produce section at mainstream retailers, and it’s the only brand to offer a marinated/ pickled beet option in a fresh-pack format.

Marquis Pineapple Passion

Suggested retail price: $2.49 per 8.83-ounce package According to Save A Lot, McDaniel’s Café Espresso’s high quality and rich flavor have enabled it to meet — and often beat — national-brand competitors in taste tests. Then there’s the price, which comes in at half of what customers normally pay for national-brand equivalents. Further, the brick pack’s bright, bold colors guarantee that it stands out on the shelf. The rollout of McDaniel’s Café Espresso was part of a complete relaunch of Save A Lot’s ground coffees.

To build on the product’s success, the retailer’s category team is looking into creating an instant espresso item as a companion to the current offering.

Nasoya Plantspired Korean-Inspired Sweet Chili Toss’ables

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 7-ounce pouch Nasoya’s Plantspired Korean-Inspired Sweet Chili Toss’ables makes plant-based eating easy for busy consumers. Featuring bite-sized pre-baked tofu cubes marinated in an aromatic sauce, the Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free and USDA Certified Organic product contains a hefty 11 grams of plant-based protein per serving and can be added to rice, noodles, salads or stir-fries. Unlike other plant-based proteins that can be intimidating or inaccessible, the product can be enjoyed hot or cold. Sweet Chili Toss’ables were featured prominently on Nasoya’s social channels, which showcased the product’s convenience and versatility. The brand is continuing to develop other plant-based products highlighting Asian-inspired flavors.

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 9.2-ounce package This next-generation innovation in frozen fruit offers an all-natural mix of real fruit or fruit and creamy yogurt, backed by the USDA and Smart Snack approved. Suitable for nearly every diet, the gluten-free, lowfat treat contains no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners, and has just 65-70 calories per serving. According to manufacturer Citrapac Inc., the product has added incremental and impulse sales to the “boring” frozen fruit category with impulse flavors and convenient servings of an anytime healthy snack. Citrapac has promoted Fruit Pearls through social media, advertising and product sampling, as well as via online and store-level promotions.

Suggested retail price: $2.91 per 12-fluid-ounce can Marquis Pineapple Passion is one of the latest additions to the brand’s lineup of lightly caffeinated sparkling functional beverages, amplifying the brand’s commitment to encourage responsible caffeine consumption among consumers. The tropical fruit-forward flavor delivers a balanced lift with just 100 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Offering an organic blend of caffeine from yerba maté, green coffee and green tea, Pineapple Passion delivers 100% of essential B vitamins, four antioxidants and more vitamin C than an orange. Following its winter launch, it quickly became the best-selling Marquis flavor, driven by the unique flavor combination of pineapple and passion fruit.

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Nature’s Premium Fruit Pearls

NEW Hearty Turkey Sausage Links Our award-winning Hearty Turkey Sausage delivers robust taste, bold flavor, and a satisfying snap in every bite. Reach out to your Butterball Sales Representative for more information.

NONFOODS

CPG Q&A

Instant Gratification AN INSTANT POWER E XECUTIVE E XPL AINS WHAT MAKES HIS COMPANY’S PLUMBING AND CLE ANING PRODUCTS STAND APART FROM THOSE OF COMPE TITORS. By Mike Duff

Instant Power Corp. is looking to unblock drains that just don’t work like they used to. The company’s range of products gives consumers the chance to deal with multiple drain and septic issues by providing a broad range of solutions to plumbing problems. The Instant Power Drain Opener lineup includes a Hair & Grease Drain Opener, a Hair Clog Remover, and, the company notes, a pair of heavy-duty items, one 10 times more potent than common drain openers and the other 36 times more powerful. Instant Power also offers consumers Drain Maintainers and Sewer & Septic products. The company has additionally developed a portfolio of cleaning products that includes items for showers, toilet tanks, washing machines, dishwashers, disposals and drains, as well as an Extreme Stain & Odor Remover designed for the sort of household challenges associated with family and pet activity.

According to Grant Stallknecht, VP sales at Dallas-based Instant Power Corp., the product formulations that the company has created can tackle difficult-to-address household drain and cleaning dilemmas where others might falter. Instant Power launched 55 years ago and has grown its availability to a range of retailers, including some of the largest in the United States. The company backs its product with a 100% money-back guarantee, but that isn’t all: On social media, it offers fun and instructive information on drain and cleaning problems, with its products offered as the solutions. On its website, Instant Power provides a connection to The Drain Experts with a page that features a form through which consumers can ask questions about Instant Power products or request a refund based on the company’s guarantee. All customers need to do is fill out the form, attach an image of the original receipt and get their refund. As such, Instant Power expresses confidence in its products, supported as they are by product information, advice and a means to easily address issues.

Following is a conversation between Progressive Grocer and Stallknecht on what differentiates Instant Power from other cleaning brands.

Progressive Grocer: What is the first thing anyone should understand about the Instant Power line of products?

Grant Stallknecht: At Instant Power, we focus on drain care products, and, as the No. 3 national brand, we carry the strongest nonacid product on the market.

PG: What particular advantages do Instant Power products offer?

GS: Our formulation is superior to many of the brands out there today: We actually work, or you get your money back!

PG: How do the products provide the results they do?

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“Anyone that has drains is a customer; at some point there will be a clog.”

—Grant Stallknecht, Instant Power Corp.

GS: We use a dual-hydroxide formulation that will dissolve the drain-clogging material for as long as it is in the drain.

PG: How do Instant Power products compare with and differ from the competition?

GS: The difference is formulation and time in the drain.

PG: What do grocers tell you about what’s happening in the household essentials aisle when it comes to sales trends and consumer behavior?

GS: Cleaning is still a vital category that, when purchased, increases overall basket size.

PG: How did the Instant Power product line launch and expand, and when did it first reach the consumer market?

Instant Power's broad range of products gives consumers the chance to deal with multiple drain and septic issues.

GS: We have been in the consumer market since 1968, primarily in the hardware/home center market. Over the last 20 years, we have expanded in mass, grocery, and farm and ranch.

to the consumer, such as social media?

GS: We use Facebook and Instagram. We also have online programs for many retailers.

PG: How safe are Instant Power formulations?

GS: Very safe when following the directions. Vinegar is a good neutralizer if needed.

PG: What responses have consumers had to the Instant Power product line?

GS: Our reviews are outstanding, which leads to repeat purchases.

PG: Are all of the products created for the same retail channels, or are some specialized for particular distribution?

GS: We have products for retail and commercial, and each is designed for that end user.

PG: Who are the products’ core customers, or does Instant Power target multiple key consumer groups?

GS: Anyone that has drains is a customer; at some point there will be a clog. Ninety-five percent of all clogs are caused by hair.

PG: How does Instant Power do its consumer outreach in terms of traditional marketing and/or other channels

PG: What do consumers particularly emphasize in their feedback?

GS: Many have standing water in their drain. They pour [our product] in, wait eight hours, and then hear a swish of the water releasing, and the clog is gone. They love hearing that swish!

PG: What does the future hold for Instant Power?

GS: We continue to innovate and find more ways to help keep drains flowing freely. A new line of products will be launched soon!

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

27

Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Pulled Angus Beef

Suggested retail price: $13.99 per 10-ounce package Made from 100% grass-fed and -finished Angus beef from Certified Humane independent family ranchers in the United States using no antibiotics or hormones, this convenient product contains just three other natural ingredients — sea salt, vinegar and rosemary — with no sugar or additives. Not only is the beef 100% pasture raised, but the microwaveable packaging is also compostable for a lower environmental footprint. While most comparable retail options are pre-mixed with a barbecue sauce, Niman Ranch omits the sauce, enabling more menu options. The company offers virtual ranch tours via QR codes promoted to consumers through shelf talkers and other merchandising.

NotChicken Crispy Patties

Suggested retail price: $7.99 per 12-ounce package of four patties Made from such ingredients as fava beans, bamboo and peaches, NotChicken is a crispy, juicy plant-based chicken patty made possible by Giuseppe, NotCo’s proprietary AI technology, which analyzes thousands of plants in its database to accurately replicate the taste, texture and even smell of animal-based protein. The launch fills a void in the natural product market by offering an alternative that not only tastes good, but is also better for the planet: The NotChicken production process uses 73% less energy, 86% less water and 73% fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the traditional chicken production process, according to a NotCo internal audit.

Nütrl Cranberry Vodka Seltzer Variety Pack

Suggested retail price: $16.99 per 8-pack of 12-fluid-ounce cans Anheuser-Busch’s Nütrl Cranberry Vodka Seltzer is made with just three simple ingredients: real vodka, real juice and sparkling water.

Containing only 100 calories per serving, the gluten-free adult-beverage line enables consumers to enjoy their No. 1-preferred vodka mixer flavor in a premium ready-to-drink format offering a range of options: Classic Cranberry, Cran Orange, Cran Grapefruit and Cran Apple. To drive brand awareness, A-B invested in media across social, streaming, out-of-home and digital channels, including a national campaign starring “SNL” star Chloe Fineman, and also executed local sampling programs and activations at retail accounts, and local activations through event sponsorships.

Panang Bitchin’ Sauce

Suggested retail price: $6.99 per 8-ounce container A gluten-free, vegan, plant-based and low-carb product made with raw California almonds and fresh curry paste, Panang Bitchin’ Sauce can be dipped, spread or poured on consumer’ favorite savory foods. Additionally, the product is packaged using high-pressure processing, a sustainable technology that extends the shelf life of the item by four to six months without adding preservatives while reducing potential food waste. In-store demos allowed customers to try the product and engage with the Bitchin’ staff to learn more. The company has also created long-lasting organic relationships with such well-known influencers as Kylie Jenner, Ruby Rose and Heidi Montag.

Nudge Coffee Bombs

Suggested retail price: $2.99 per 1.94-ounce container With Nudge Coffee Bombs, The Whole Coffee Co. has created coffee in confection form. Combining high-quality 100% arabica coffee with cocoa butter and other simple ingredients through a patented process, the company offers all of the benefits of coffee — natural caffeine, antioxidants and fiber — in a thin cane-sugar shell. Additionally, the portable product comes in such tempting flavor profiles as Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Latte and Hazelnut Crème, all at just 3 grams of sugar per serving. At one large retailer, Nudge drove 22% incrementality in the snack category through basket building by shoppers and converting new consumers to the category.

Paws Happy Life Green Dental Chews Dog Treats

Suggested retail price range: $12.99-$15.99 per 14- to 18-ounce package Topco’s chewy dog treats promote fresh breath and remove plaque and tartar while also being wheat-free and easily digestible. They come in packages for small, medium and large dogs, and the resealable plastic pouches help ensure freshness. Topco’s product offers all of the benefits of the national brand, along with considerable cost savings, and is supported by online, instore and in-aisle promotions to help drive awareness and purchase intent.

Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free Cream Cheese

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 6.5-ounce container Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free Cream Cheese provides an alternative to traditional dairy spreads. Crafted with food tech startup Perfect Day using precision fermentation, it delivers the same taste and texture as dairy cream cheese, contains no cholesterol or lactose, and appeals to health- and environmentally conscious consumers who prioritize taste and nutrition. The product line comes in three varieties: Original, Chive & Onion, and Strawberry. Bel Brands USA promoted Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free Cream Cheese through a robust marketing and PR campaign, educating consumers about animal-free dairy in tandem with an incentive for those who made the switch.

28 progressivegrocer.com

A R T

T H E

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M E R C H A N D I S I N G

THE ART OF MERCHANDISING

THE ART OF MERCHANDISING

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Merchandising is more than fitout and fixtures. It’s the art of creating an attractive, well-organized retail presentation. As with any artistic composition, a wide variety of tools

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DISPLAY AND SCAN HOOKS LABEL HOLDER SYSTEMS DIVIDER AND PUSHER SYSTEMS BAR MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS COOLER MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS

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©2019 Trion Industries, Inc.

Flip-Scan Hooks Mini Dual Lane Trays WonderBar Hooks ®

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©2019 Trion Industries, Inc. ©2019 Trion Industries, Inc. Inc. Trion Industries, ©2023

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Rob’s Backstage Popcorn Priyanka’s Mumbai Nights

Pescanova Protein Pasta made from Wild Alaska Pollock

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 9-ounce package Made from responsibly caught, Marine Stewardship Council-certifi ed wild Alaska pollock, Pescanova’s innovative product is currently the only pasta alternative made from seafood on the U.S. market. The gluten-free, low-carbohydrate pasta — which promises no fi shy taste — comes fully cooked, heats up in two minutes and contains only 70 calories per serving. It’s available in Garlic Basil, Lemon Pepper and Tomato Basil fl avors, and Pescanova is aiming to have 100% of its packaging be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

$5.99 per 4-ounce bag Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas lent her name and culinary heritage to this innovative variety from The Jonas Brothers’ Rob’s Backstage Popcorn brand. The blend of Indian-inspired fl avors used to fl avor the popcorn include turmeric, red bell pepper, carrot, onion, cumin and garlic powder, and the fi nished product is vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free. Rob’s launched Mumbai Nights in Walmart and Albertsons/Safeway stores nationwide, and the item is now the company’s top-performing fl avor extension.

Planters Flavored Cashews

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 5-ounce package Planters’ latest nut innovation promises larger-size cashews, a lightly coated texture and a selection of complementary flavors, all offered at a competitive price point for everyday snacking. The flavors —Dill Pickle, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar, and Rosemary & Sea Salt — were all carefully selected based on extensive consumer testing and research. To promote consumer awareness and drive retail sell-through, Planters implemented a comprehensive support strategy that included sampling programs, eye-catching displays, coupons, omnichannel programs and influencer collaborations.

Schnucks Cherry Cardinals Crunch Ice Cream

Suggested retail price: $4.49 per 48-ounce tub This frozen dessert, a collaboration between Schnuck Markets and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, boasts packaging made to look like a Cardinals jersey and features coated graham pieces made to resemble baseballs. The limited-edition product launch was a major affair, with radio spots by current and former Cardinals players, samplings and autographs by alumni players and team mascot Fredbird, social contests for Schnucks rewards points, in-store signage, and even ice cream socials at the grocer’s corporate offi ce.

Pork King Good Old-Timey Butterscotch Pork Rinds

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 3-ounce bag Pork King Good has put a sweet spin on a traditionally savory snack with its Old-Timey Butterscotch Pork Rinds, which as well as being keto-friendly, gluten-free and low in carbohydrates, also promise a nostalgic butterscotch taste with a light and fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The woman-owned company strategically launches all new flavors online first to its direct-to-consumer audience to test proof of concept, collect product reviews and determine demand for retail availability, and this creative flavor checked all of the boxes.

Raised Gluten Free Cookie Mixes

Suggested retail price: $7.99 per 12-ounce package Kid-friendly baking products are few and far between, but Raised Gluten Free took the concept a step further by making cookie mixes that also meet a slew of special dietary needs. The mixes, which come in Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate and Confetti varieties, are 100% vegan, Certified Gluten Free and free of the nine top allergens, and the product line contains simple plant-based ingredients like rice flour, cane sugar, sea salt and naturally colored sprinkles. The illustrated step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, and the colorful packaging makes the mixes stand out on the shelf.

Scout Seafood Snacks

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 5.1-ounce cup Scout is on a mission to expand the audience for seafood by making it more delicious, more convenient and more responsibly sourced.

The company’s Seafood Snacks bring convenience and accessibility to premium sustainable seafood, with each variety pairing responsibly sourced yellowfin tuna in olive oil with a crunchy topper that’s inspired by the trending international taste profiles of Chili Crisp, Chile Jalapeño and Za’atar. Each package comes complete with a paperboard mixing bowl, and the entire kit is plastic-free and fully compostable or recyclable.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

29

SE Grocers Party Cubes

$3.99 per 10-pound package What’s so innovative about ice, you ask? Southeastern Grocers partnered with Relocalize to introduce Party Cubes, which are manufactured in the world’s first autonomous micro-factory and designed to help eliminate middle-mile logistics to reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions, water waste and plastic pollution. Not only is the super-premium cubed ice made efficiently, locally and on-demand for select stores, but it also offers easier storage and an environmentally conscious and affordable alternative to standard ice products. We hope that answered your question.

SeedWise Soft Baked Grain Free Cookies

Suggested retail price range: $4.99-$5.99 per 2.86-ounce package These soft-baked, grain-free cookies from SeedWise are free from the top nine food allergens; crafted with a proprietary blend of seed flour consisting of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and flax seeds; and packed with nutrients. The unique ingredient list underscores the fact that growing seeds requires 20 to 90 times less water than tree nuts, making these cookies an environmentally conscious choice.

The company’s internal analysis has proved that, compared with other better-for-you cookies in the same category, its cookies boast superior nutritional profiles while offering a competitive price per package.

Ser!ous Bean Co. Hot Honey Baked Beans

$1.99 per 15.5-ounce can Owned and made by Lakeside Foods, Hot Honey Baked Beans from Ser!ous Bean Co. are flavored with real honey and smoked bacon. Taking advantage of two seriously popular flavors, the company takes the cake for being the first hot-honey item in its category. Ser!ous Bean Co. is hoping to generate incremental sales in the category through such methods as organic social media, e-mail communication, dynamic online product listings with retailers, ratings and reviews, and direct-to-consumer availability.

Simply Done Glass Food Storage Containers

Suggested retail price range: $3.99-$10.99 for various sizes Topco’s environmentally friendly glass storage containers can be used for dry storage, refrigerating or freezing leftovers, reheating in the oven or microwave, and many other kitchen needs. Each container comes with a leakproof snap-on lid that holds in freshness and prevents accidental spillage and freezer burn. With five size options, Topco’s containers fill a private label product void while also meeting the needs of eco-focused shoppers.

30 progressivegrocer.com

SimplyV Plant-based Cream Cheese

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 8-ounce container SimplyV’s alternative cream cheese is non-GMO and dairy-, gluten- and lactose-free, as well as containing no artificial preservatives, soy or palm oil. The product, which was developed by a small team of artisan cheesemakers with many years of combined plant-based experience, comes in Original, Strawberry, and Onion & Chive varieties and gets its traditional cream cheese flavor and texture from the inclusion of almonds. Additionally, SimplyV is the first company to offer plant-based cream cheese in a baking-bar format.

Smartwater Alkaline with Antioxidant

Suggested retail price: $2.19 per 20-ounce bottle The latest hydration innovation from The Coca-Cola Co.owned Smartwater caters to increasing consumer demand for functional beverages. A 9.5 pH level and the addition of selenium help complement active, high-performance lifestyles while also boosting Smartwater’s presence in the alkaline water category. Looking forward, Smartwater plans to expand the sports-cap feature of the water to allow for wider availability and convenience for consumers, and also position it as a hero product at the 2024 Olympic Games to enhance global visibility, brand recognition and sales.

So Good So You Metabolism Citrus Cinnamon Probiotic Shot

$3.99 per 1.7-ounce bottle So Good So You launched this product as the first shot in the cooler focused on metabolic health, to meet a need indentified by consumers in the category.

The metabolism shot offers five thermogenics: organic ginger juice, organic turmeric juice, organic green tea extract, organic cinnamon and organic cayenne. All of the company’s products are made in a 100% renewable energy-powered, zero-waste manufacturing facility, which diverts more than 94% of its waste from landfills.

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Soleil Sparkling Water-Yuzu Citrus

Suggested retail price: $2.99 per 8-pack of 12-fluid-ounce cans With no other yuzu-flavored sparkling water on the shelves at Albertsons Cos. stores, the company is meeting consumer demand based on the growing popularity of on-trend, emerging flavors. The item was added to several in-store promotional events and featured on the company’s internal website to help get customers excited about the new flavor and understand what yuzu tastes like. The packaging boasts teal and yellow colorways to stand out from similar items on the shelf.

Sweet P’s Churro Donut Bites

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 12-ounce package A unique product for the perennially popular doughnut category, Topco’s Churro Donut Bites are made in a nut-free facility and offer a fun bite-sized snack. Smaller-format sweet goods continue to grow in popularity year over year, with new offerings like these helping to drive those sales increases.

According to Topco, prominent in-store displays are often all that’s needed to quickly move these tiny doughnuts from shelf to table, but the product is also supported by in-store, in-aisle and online marketing tools.

Think! Sweet Treat High Protein Bar-Boston Crème Pie

Suggested retail price: $9.99 per 10.05-ounce 5-count box Thanks to dual-layer technology, this Boston Crème Pie-flavored bar from Think! lets consumers treat themselves to a decadent crème layer while taking in 15 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. Best of all, each gluten-free bar contains only 1 gram of sugar and no artificial sweeteners. Think! is known for its mission to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet, and the company continues to build on its public relations, shopper marketing and influencer efforts.

Thrive Market/LesserEvil All About the Elote Organic Popcorn Suggested retail price: $2.24 per 4.6-ounce bag This Thrive Market exclusive, created with LesserEvil, elevates traditional popcorn by using elote, a grilled corn flavor that features peppers, cheeses and spices.

The product is being cross-promoted by both brands, and so far it has contributed to 25% of total company revenue tied to Thrive Market’s private label business, according to the e-grocer. In a nod to the environment, the new collection’s packaging is from NEO Plastics, maker of an organic additive that transforms traditional plastic packaging into a sustainable solution made for disposal in landfills.

32 progressivegrocer.com

TopCare Black Elderberry Syrup

Suggested retail price: $7.99 per 4-fluid-ounce bottle Consumers can now support their immune systems without emptying their wallets, thanks to this more affordable supplement. TopCare Black Elderberry Syrup is naturally flavored and sugar- and gluten-free. Liquid vitamins are one of the fastest-growing vitamin segments, according to Topco, which reports that the leading national brand’s black elderberry liquid vitamins have experienced a 33% increase in dollar sales recently. Despite this popularity, the segment has been underdeveloped in the own-brand arena. This item gives Topco members a perfect way to break into the category, especially as demand is expected to grow exponentially. Topco is supporting the product with in-store and online marketing tools.

TopCare Foaming Bath Made with Pure Epsom Salt

Suggested retail price: $3.99 per 34-fluid-ounce bottle Stressed-out shoppers will appreciate Topco’s value-priced TopCare Foaming Bath Made with Pure Epsom Salt, which comes in two popular scents: relaxing Lavender and invigorating Eucalyptus & Spearmint. Packaged in a blue plastic bottle reminiscent of glass apothecary jars, the bath product brings to mind simpler times and natural remedies.

The line is free from parabens, phthalates and formaldehyde donors, and is being supported by in-store and online marketing tools. Repurchase intent for Foaming Bath continues to be highly positive, according to Topco.

TopCare Verisol Collagen

Suggested retail price: $9.99 per 90-tablet bottle Formulated to support hair, skin, nails, joints and bones, TopCare Verisol Collagen contains 60 milligrams of vitamin C for optimized collagen synthesis, according to Topco. Similar to leading brands but with a more affordable price tag, the dietary supplement comes in an easy-to-swallow caplet. The collagen segment is poised to grow 69% in the coming years, Topco notes, so retailers should consider adding this item not only to increase their own-brand sales, but also to have a sustained presence in the category for years to come. Topco is supporting the product with in-store and online marketing tools.

Vinaforé Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Suggested retail price: $21.99 per 25-fluid-ounce bottle Within the fi rst six months of its launch, Albertsons’ Vinaforé Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has been one of its most successful private label wine launches ever. In fact, the product has begun to amass a following, and Albertsons is looking to drive even more engagement by using an online landing page and including the wine in its playbook for focus items during peak buying seasons. In contrast to most national brands, the front label of the wine features a wealth of information, including its age (complete with barrel type and length of time), tasting notes, varietal composition and vineyard infl uence, as well as a master-of-wine signature of approval.

Watkins 1868 Organic Grilling Salt-Free Steak Seasoning

Suggested retail price: $4.99 per 2.6-ounce bottle Consumers who need to watch their sodium intake will appreciate this fl avorful organic steak seasoning from The Watkins Co. The Watkins 1868 Organic Grilling line has quickly become the No. 3 organic grilling brand in the category, according to the company, and Salt-Free Steak Seasoning offers a special blend designed to enhance steak’s natural fl avor. The product is also Non-GMO Project Verifi ed and kosher. Watkins supported the launch through an integrated mix of traditional and digital marketing and retailer-specifi c activations to drive sell-through at both brick-and-mortar and online retailers.

Watkins Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice Vital Farms Restorative Eggs

Suggested retail price: $9.99 per 12-egg 24-ounce carton Available exclusively at Whole Foods Market locations, Vital Farms Restorative Eggs take agricultural standards to the next level. These eggs are produced on a core group of regenerative farms employing a comprehensive suite of regenerative agriculture practices and advised by experts. Meanwhile, consumers can go to Vital Farms’ website and type in the name of the farm printed on the side of the egg carton to view a 360-degree video about the farm and its hens.

Vital Farms has supported the product with media events, coupon mailings and a social media program, and the company is looking to expand to other natural retailers in the near future.

Wahlburgers Drumstick Lollipops

Suggested retail price: $11.99 per 48-ounce bag Move over chicken wings — Wahlburgers’ ready-to-cook Chicken Drumstick Lollipops are the latest sensation in handheld poultry products. The company has patented the item and envisions applications for it in both the frozen case (as it’s currently sold) and the full-service deli. The lollipop makes use of the chicken drumstick — an item that traditionally has had little demand and excess supply — yet processes it in a way that is more appealing than traditional drumsticks. Wahlburgers is cross-promoting Drumstick Lollipops with the rest of its popular portfolio of sauces and burgers, and is heavily relying on social media promotion and influencer marketing to reach out to more consumers.

Suggested retail price: $6.99 per 2.6-ounce bottle With peak pumpkin spice season fast approaching, retailers should consider stocking this better-for-you seasoning to expand options for their customers.

Watkins Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice stands out because it’s kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified organic by QAI, as well as containing no dyes, high-fructose corn syrup or MSG. The spice is ideal for pies, bread, cookies, pancakes or even beverages. It has been supported through an integrated mix of traditional and digital marketing and retailer-specific activations.

Wild Harvest Almond Cranberry Rice Clusters

Suggested retail price range: $3.99-$5.99 per 3-ounce package Wild Harvest Almond Cranberry Rice Clusters is one of the newest additions to a growing line of better-for-you options from United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) These rice clusters are made with sweetened dried cranberries, pink Himalayan salt, puffed rice and dry-roasted almonds. They’re also gluten-free and certifi ed nonGMO, and made without artifi cial colors, preservatives or fl avors.

UNFI supported the launch with tailored outreach to trade and consumer media outlets, as well as with social media. The company hopes to expand the product’s retail presence in the near future.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

33

Wildwonder Pineapple Paradise Prebiotic + Probiotic Sparkling Drink

Suggested retail price: $3.49 per 12-fluid-ounce can Combining a grandmother’s wisdom and the freshness of a California fruit stand, Pineapple Paradise Prebiotic + Probiotic Sparkling Drink is Wildwonder’s latest beverage to feature both live probiotics and prebiotic fiber. The refreshing drink, packaged in a slim, colorful can, was inspired by the Chinese healing tonics that founder Rosa Li’s grandmother brewed for her as a child. It features a mix of pineapple and tangerine juices, Szechuan peppercorn, and cinnamon. Sweetened with monk fruit, the beverage contains only 6 grams of sugar and 35 calories per serving. The company is promoting it through digital marketing, earned media and VIP giftings. Following an exclusive distribution with Sprouts Farmers Market, Wildwonder plans to roll the beverage out to additional retail accounts.

Woodstock Red Lentil and Eggplant Ravioli

Suggested retail price: $10.99 per 20-ounce package Woodstock Red Lentil and Eggplant Ravioli gives consumers a simple yet healthy vegan meal solution that contains premium restaurant-quality ingredients. Produced in Italy, the ravioli is USDA Certified Organic and stuffed with a hearty roasted eggplant filling. Unlike many other frozen pastas in the category, this ravioli is made with no artificial colors or flavors. United Natural Foods Inc. supported the product’s launch with tailored outreach to trade and consumer media outlets, as well as with social media ads and influencer activations. The company plans to continue building its Woodstock frozen pasta line by expanding its retail presence and launching new products where applicable.

34 progressivegrocer.com

Zapp’s SinfullySeasoned Pretzel Stix

Suggested retail price: $5.48 per 16-ounce bag Voodoo and Jazzy Honey Mustard bring the bold flavors of New Orleans to a classic pretzel stick form. This snack from Zapp’s —previously known for its chips — was launched earlier this year with a second-line parade in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter neighborhood, followed by a social media giveaway. The Sinfully-Seasoned Pretzel Stix have resulted in a positive impact not only on the Zapp’s brand, but also on the category as a whole, with flavored pretzels up 24% versus a year ago, according to parent company Utz Brands Inc. Look for more flavors soon.

Yasso Vanilla Bean Poppables

Suggested retail price:$6.49 per 6.84-fluid-ounce package Coinciding with a packaging redesign and a reduced product size, Poppables has added Vanilla Bean Poppables to its indulgent snacking lineup. These small snacks with big flavor feature bite-sized frozen Greek yogurt covered in a crunchy dark chocolatey shell. At just 35 calories per Poppable and with no artificial ingredients, consumers will feel tempted to snack on them by the handful.

Also, thanks to the new resealable bags and a slightly smaller product size, consumers now have 50% more food to snack on. Yasso created unique ad spots that ran across broadcast TV and streaming and digital platforms. The company also invested in customer marketing tactics at key retailer accounts and made use of social media and influencers.

Zoup! Good, Really Good Soups

Suggested retail price: $5.99 per 16-ounce jar Just in time for the start of autumn, Zoup! Good, Really Good Soups provide heat-and-eat varieties that are complex yet comforting, inspired yet familiar. For example, Chicken and Riced Caulifl ower Soup combines a savory chicken broth with classic herbs and spices, a traditional mirepoix, white meat, and low-carb riced caulifl ower. Meanwhile, the company’s Spicy Chicken ‘Chilada Soup brings together a zesty mix of tomatoes, roasted corn, black beans, onion and chili pepper. Each of Zoup!’s fi ve soups features high-quality ingredients with no artifi cial ingredients, preservatives or GMOs. The Zoup! brand got its start in the restaurant industry, and the company has built on its experience with a PR campaign, podcast advertising, infl uencer partnerships and retail promotions.

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RETAILER DEEP DIVE

The Giant Co.

Unbreakable

BONDS

The Giant Co. celebrates 100 years of connecting families for a better future.

By Gina Acosta

W

hen it comes to the future of the grocery industry, there’s no shortage of advice.

Some experts say that grocers looking to thrive in the omnichannel age should focus on reimagining their physical formats and experimenting with technologies such as generative AI and micro fulfillment. Others say that retailers should prioritize automation, sustainability goals and retail media.

Many retailers are doing most or all of that, but only a handful of them have been doing it for a century — and even fewer have been able to do it while preserving the bonds of a strong company and customer culture. One of those grocers is The Giant Co., which celebrates its 100th birthday on Oct. 4.

From its humble beginnings in 1923 as a butcher shop in Carlisle, Pa., called Carlisle Meat Market, to a 193-store operator with an army of 35,000 team members serving customers across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and New Jersey, the grocery chain known as The Giant Co. is just “an amazing brand,” according to President John Ruane, a lifelong veteran of the grocery business who took over officially as president in July after serving as interim chief for nearly a year.

“Some of the things that make The Giant Co. brand special include our heritage of being a place that has driven value. Value is a combination of price, quality, variety and service. Some of the things that we think about often are: How do we find ways to drive value for customers? What are the items that they need the most? How do we price them most aggressively? How do we deliver those things that really build meals for their families? Connecting families around the table is the foundation of our brand.”

The Giant Co., which encompasses the Giant, Martin’s, Giant Heirloom Market, Giant Direct and Martin’s Di-

36 progressivegrocer.com

From its humble beginnings in 1923 as a two-man butcher shop in Carlisle, Pa., called Carlisle Meat Market, to a 193-store operator with an army of 35,000 team members serving customers across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and New Jersey, the grocery chain known as The Giant Co. is just “an amazing brand,” according to President John Ruane, a lifelong veteran of the grocery business who took over officially as president in July after serving as interim chief for nearly a year.

“We’re in a really challenging economy, and [shoppers] have a lot of choices, so we want them to choose us, but we know we have to earn the right for them to choose us, and that’s where we continue to focus on giving the customer a consistently friendly, fresh, great experience every time they shop.”

—John Ruane, President, The Giant Co.

rect banners, is owned by parent company Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize (which had annual revenue of $92 billion in 2022). In May, Ahold Delhaize, which operates more than 2,000 grocery stores in the United States, reported strong earnings for its second quarter and attributed a 2.7% growth rate in U.S. comparable sales in part to the strength of sales at The Giant Co. “We are proud of the entire team at The Giant Co. for reaching a historic milestone of feeding families and serving local communities for 100 years,” said J.J. Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, at the tine. “Few retailers – and even fewer grocers – have stood this test of time. As The Giant Co. steps into its next century of service, we are grateful for the 35,000 team members who serve customers every day, and we’re humbled by the thousands of customers who choose Giant to help nourish their families. In celebration of the entire Giant Co. family, here’s to 100-plus more years!”

Connecting Customers

Over the past 100 years, The Giant Co. has certainly evolved its business model and go-to-market strategy, but its most recent transformation might have been its most prescient.

In February 2020, the company changed its name from Giant Food Stores to The Giant Co. as it looked to distinguish itself from sister banner Giant Food, based in Landover, Md. (both chains are operated by Ahold Delhaize USA). A few months later, The Giant Co. rolled out a new brand platform: For Today’s Table. Building on the new company name, For Today’s Table mapped out a course for the business’ growth and its connections with customers.

It’s been a tough few years for the grocery industry since 2020, but “as much as the business has changed,” Ruane notes, “the core elements are still the same in terms of customers want what they want, when they want it, and they have a lot of options to go get it. We’re in a really challenging economy, and they have a lot of choices, so we want them to choose us, but we know we have to earn the right for them to choose us, and that’s where we continue to focus on giving the customer a consistently friendly, fresh, great experience every time they shop.”

Ruane, who started out in the grocery industry at age 14 in New Jersey and led The Giant Co.’s PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

37

RETAILER DEEP DIVE

The Giant Co.

merchandising and marketing teams before being promoted to president, says that the company is leaning in harder on capturing occasions as competition heats up in the retailer’s crowded trading area. “There’s actually more value discounters in our trading area than any other trading area, at least in the world of Ahold Delhaize on the East Coast,” he observes. “We have over 800 value competitors, so it’s super-competitive. We see a lot of cross-shopping. I think everybody is just fighting for the units today, because as we’ve seen inflation ramp up, they’re not buying as many units as they used to.” However, he points out, some of those inflationary trends are starting to ease.

“We’re actually seeing deflation in some areas like fresh, which we’re happy about,” Ruane notes, but “we need to do better and find different ways to not only find the right products, but also price them right and display them correctly.”

The Giant Co. has been accelerating its e-commerce operations since at least 2019, when it opened its first e-commerce hub, in Lancaster, Pa. The company has several e-commerce fulfillment centers and hundreds of delivery and pickup locations.

Connecting Occasions

Luckily for The Giant Co., it had started down an omnichannel path way before there was even a whiff of a pandemic. The Giant Co. has been accelerating its e-commerce operations since at least 2019, when it opened its first e-commerce hub, in Lancaster, Pa. The company has several e-commerce fulfillment centers and hundreds of delivery and pickup locations, with shoppers across 90% of its market area having access to online grocery and delivery services.

“Even despite inflation, despite the supply chain disruptions, we’ve continued to see our customer service metrics, as well as cashier friendliness, improve year over year.”

—Joanna Crishock, VP of Marketing and Commercial Planning, The Giant Co.

Being able to offer convenience in a variety of formats, especially now, is key, according Joanna Crishock, VP of marketing and commercial planning at The Giant Co. “Another way that we’ve done that is just by the expansion of our relationship with Instacart, as well as our owned channel, Giant Direct delivery, as well as pickup options,” Crishock adds. “We made those even easier to access earlier this year, when we relaunched our app. So, [we offer a] refreshed app, [an] easier experience, less clicks to get to what you want, better ability to personalize and pull out the rewards and savings that we’re … giving to customers from shopping with us and from being digitally engaged.”

The company has also extended its famous Bonus Buys, allowing shoppers the opportunity to take advantage of these deals over the course of four to six weeks, instead of just one week, so that they’ll be able to stretch their budgets — guaranteed.

“We have made price investments in some of our key 38 progressivegrocer.com

value items so that we have competitive pricing on those, and many of those are actually private-brand items, too,” Crishock says, going on to note that the retailer has expanded its Global Flavors private-brand assortment and incentivized shoppers to choose own-brand products labeled with its proprietary nutritional rating system, Guiding Stars.

“Even despite inflation, despite the supply chain disruptions, we’ve continued to see our customer service metrics, as well as cashier friendliness, improve year over year,” Crishock observes. “We are hyper-focused on customer experience. We have a customer experience tracker that we review on a weekly basis, so it’s something that is always top of mind and top of discussion in terms of how we are performing. It’s very encouraging to see those metrics continue to improve, or at least be steady, despite disruptions that customers are feeling in the market.”

The company is leveraging data to learn more about why its shoppers choose it as a primary destination. “It’s all about the data we can personalize,” Ruane asserts. “We do a lot of it now, but we need to do more of it in the future: getting to know the customer, the communities we serve, being able to build a plan that we can scale, but also at the same time we can localize. And we’ve done a lot of good work around localization.”

Over the past five years, The Giant Co. has more than doubled the number of its local suppliers to be able to give customers the brands that are important to them.

In addition to whetting shopper appetites for local products, the grocer has expanded its private-brand assortment, pushed into new merchandise categories, and opened several new formats such as its Heirloom Market concept, a combination of modern design, hyper-localization and globally inspired foodservice. In fact, when the pandemic eased, The Giant Co. was one of the first retailers to reopen its foodservice bars.

Speaking of which, how has retail foodservice fared post-pandemic? “What we actually saw is it didn’t fully come back right away, and in some cases, it’s still not fully back to where it was,”

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Ruane admits, “but I think what it does is it helps us rationalize the business better, and at the same time, we’ve seen an increase in some of our chilled prepackaged offerings, prepackaged salads, sandwiches and meals. Those things have actually elevated.”

The next evolution of the retailer’s operational strategy is leveraging the scale of its Ahold Delhaize partners, Retail Business Services and Peapod Digital Labs, to streamline or improve processes with regard to retail media, e-commerce, shrink, team experience, supply chain, merchandising, IT and new stores.

Regarding this last item, The Giant Co. plans to open two new stores in Pennsylvania in 2024-25, and Ruane says that he’s working on remodeling older stores.

“We had some stores that hadn’t been touched in years,” he notes, “so we’re doing our For Today’s Table format refresh and some upgrades in refrigeration as we march toward the Ahold Delhaize Net Zero 2040 goal.”

Connecting Core Values

When it comes to The Giant Co.’s approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) work, the retailer is guided by its purpose, whether that means taking steps to heal the planet, eliminate hunger, change children’s lives, or promote well-being in the communities it serves. That purpose also

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“Care and teamwork are two of our values that I’m just going to say are a really strong red thread through everything that we do as a company and that we experience.”

—Jennifer Heinzen Krueger, VP of Team Experience, The Giant Co.

involves weaving what it calls “a red thread” of authenticity into its employee value proposition, which team members find hard to resist. “Care and teamwork are two of our values that I’m just going to say are a really strong red thread through everything that we do as a company and that we experience,” affirms Jennifer Heinzen Krueger, VP of team experience at Giant Co. “When we ask our team members, ‘Why have you stayed 40 years or 55 years?’ it’s always a story of, ‘I love working with my colleagues, my team members, the people here, what make us so different, my manager treats me with respect, or I just love the customers that I work with every day.’ That’s really how I would describe our culture, really anchored in that care and that teamwork.”

Since the pandemic, the industry has been challenged with finding people to fill some jobs, so Krueger characterizes her focus as becoming more flexible with hiring, training and how work gets done. The retailer also encourages its team members to take part in volunteerism.

“How do we make jobs more interesting for those who are maybe in a group that are not as aggressively sought after by employers?” Krueger muses. “I think that’s maybe where some of the magic comes in. We’ve done a lot in this space with younger teens, neurodiversity, internships, just really looking to unlock career paths.”

The company is also trying to reinvigorate what it does in the area of retention by focusing on cross-training, growth opportunities, and helping team members really see that “if the job they are doing right now has gotten boring, there’s so much more that you can do, and we are going to help you get there,” Krueger asserts.

At the end of the day, Crishock says, the core values at the center of The Giant Co. are the same as those shared across Ahold Delhaize.

“We all share the same core values of teamwork, care, courage and integrity, as well as humor,” she points out, “and those are essential to who we are as an overall brand and the foundation of that.”

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GUEST VIEWPOINT

Store of the Future

Laying the Operational Foundation for Autonomous Stores RE TAILERS MUST KEEP PACE WITH ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY — AND THE COMPE TITION.

By Michael Gabay hile autonomous stores and technological innovation are high on the retail agenda, the infrastructure and operational efforts that enable them aren’t often given the same broad attention. However, as more retailers look to embrace the benefits of embedding digital solutions into their physical stores, it is becoming clear that developing internal processes and infrastructure for the deployment of new technologies will determine which companies thrive in today’s rapidly changing retail environment.

According to Deloitte, technological preparedness is one of the deciding factors for companies that fare well through tumultuous economic periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But the value of laying a robust foundation for technological adoption extends beyond times of crisis. Companies must excel and stay ahead of the curve in today’s technologically competitive environment.

Since the inception of the the autonomous store in 2018, dozens have been deployed around the world, including this Trigo-powered REWE store in Berlin (Image courtesy of REWE Group).

Preparing Internal Operations for Smart Stores The importance of operational preparedness is especially true for grocers implementing emerging technologies such as autonomous checkout, also referred to as seamless checkout. Grocery retail is rooted in a traditional brick-and-mortar business model, with many long-standing and comprehensive internal processes.

These operations may struggle to adapt to the unique needs of automated checkout systems and smart stores.

One of the biggest operational changes that grocery retailers will face is employee training and role reassignment. With the adoption of autonomous store technologies, employees will shift into customer service and technical roles. Grocery retailers must create specialized training programs for new roles and responsibilities. Developing such programs can take several months, depending on the size and resources of the retailer’s learning and development teams.

In “Transforming Operations Management for a Digital World,” McKinsey & Co. discusses a bank’s investment in digitization and the operational changes required to succeed. The report explains that “building the portal wasn’t enough, nor was training branch associates to show customers how to use it. The whole bank needed to reorient its activities to showcase and sustain digital.

That meant modifying roles for everyone, from tellers to investment advisers, with new communications to anticipate people’s concerns during the transition and explain how customer service was evolving.”

Similar to the grocery retail industry, banking is a traditional industry rooted in brick-andmortar practices. Both banking and traditional retail are being disrupted by digital-native services, whether they’re online banking and neo-banks or online grocery delivery and meal kit subscription programs. Both must adopt cutting-edge technologies that automate and digitize their services to evolve — and survive — in their business category. Grocery retailers are realizing that implementing frictionless checkout tech is not a one-and-done process.

Operational adjustments to the workforce, training programs and internal processes are needed to set up for success.

Turning Insights Into Action

The first step is to establish an internal task force comprising technology, business,

44 progressivegrocer.com

finance and operations representatives. The task force should be given the resources and authority to determine the measures necessary for the implementation of automated checkout systems. The task force should then explore different technologies, providers and partners, as well as look at similar businesses to see which steps they took and how they chose to innovate. Following this stage, the task force should come together internally and draft recommendations based on its expertise and findings. This will include proposing changes and recommending budgets and timelines that will prepare the organization to move forward with autonomous retail.

Infrastructure Changes Are Inevitable — and Are Already Happening

Flexible infrastructure is an innovation enabler. Certain technology vendors know how to transform even stores with the most outdated infrastructure, but it’s important to set expectations accordingly — the more flexible the infrastructure, the smoother the transition will be. It’s similar to upgrading your smartphone: At some point, even though your old phone still works, you may realize you need more battery life and processing power to support more and more sophisticated apps.

Traditional grocery stores are still highly operational, and many customers are attached to the traditional grocery experience. But when other players are updating their stores left and right, enabling them to offer superior and more diverse shopper experiences, a traditional store may become outdated quickly.

Retailers that act now to put in place the infrastructure that supports technology that can turn their existing stores into smart ones will have the upper hand and keep their stores up to date. This transformation is already familiar to most retailers from other parts of the supply chain. For example, grocery retailers have made infrastructure changes in their warehouses and micro-fulfilment centers by upgrading network connectivity in these facilities. This change is necessary to provide the real-time data that powers the robots and automation tools that are central to retailers’ inventory management.

The frictionless checkout experience delivered by an autonomous grocery store can be perceived by customers as magical, and the technology behind it is groundbreaking, but like any other technological innovation, it requires tangible infrastructure in place so it can work its magic.

Keeping Ahead of the Learning Curve

The process of implementing autonomous stores is similar to preparing for and running a marathon: You need to prepare both physically and mentally to run the full distance. Similarly, the successful deployment of frictionless checkout in stores requires both physical adaptations and a mindset shift within the organization. Expect it to be a learning curve. Each retailer’s unique brand personality also brings a new set of challenges for the technology, such as different product lines, use cases, and shopper behaviors and expectations. Some retailers have come to realize that they must begin preparing the ground for frictionless checkout tech even before they open their first store.

This learning process is a critical part of successful implementation and scale. Some retailers choose a more passive approach, opting to wait and see how other players implement emerging technologies, hoping to learn from their successes and mistakes.

Grocery retailers are realizing that implementing frictionless checkout tech is not a one-and-done process.

Operational adjustments to the workforce, training programs and internal processes are needed to set up for success.

They’re running the risk of falling far behind their competition. More than that, however, they’re running the risk of learning the wrong lessons. Each organization is unique, with its own needs and expectations. One retailer can attempt to mimic the actions of another, with a completely different outcome. Such a retailer will pass up golden opportunities to learn hands-on processes that best suit its particular organization.

Laying the foundation for the first store can take time, but each subsequent store will see this timeframe narrow. The goal of operational preparation processes is to set retailers up for rollout at scale, and across diverse markets, store sizes and formats.

The autonomous store is no longer just a theory or trend — Since its inception in 2018, dozens of stores have been deployed around the world, with a vast majority in the past year alone. As part of the next step in the evolution of grocery retail, grocers need to begin laying the foundation for frictionless checkout technology, but also for a completely digitized store operating system, where the benefits go way beyond seamless checkout.

With the right operations and infrastructure systems, retailers will be able to leverage the vast capabilities derived from the computer vision and artificial intelligence that power frictionless checkout, producing rich data and insights that enable these additional tools. From inventory management to planogram optimization, retailers will be able to centralize all of their in-store operations, as well as improve return on investment with solutions for proximity marketing and shrink reduction. This organizational transformation will be viable for decades to come as new technologies are invented. Many of these innovations we can’t even imagine today, just as frictionless checkout tech and a fully digitized store operating system would have sounded completely fictitious merely a decade ago. This is why it’s so important for retailers to begin future-proofing their businesses today.

The innovation marathon requires significant preparation, dedication, time and investment, but there are few things more satisfying than crossing the finish line ahead of your competition.

Michael Gabay is co-founder and CEO of Trigo an Israel-based computer vision company specializing in frictionless checkout technology and retail analytics.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

45

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Store Personnel Can’t Always Lock & Unlock Beer and Alcohol Coolers On Time.

Speaking with Will Steinmann, Vice President of Sales at Modern Store Equipment Regula�ons on alcohol sales vary by state but most states have specific start and end �mes. Not adhering to these guidelines can mean fines or the suspension of your ability to sell alcohol.

preset �me. It removes any issues with reduced or distracted staff.

And if a store is experiencing increased the�, the doors can be kept locked and only opened by store personnel when required. It’s like having a security guard on premises exactly when needed.

Unlocking your coolers too late can cause lost sales. Not locking your coolers on �me can cause you to violate local laws or put store workers in the difficult posi�on of denying a customer at checkout a�er hours.

With reduced staff during overnight shi�s, it can be difficult to lock cases precisely on �me. But it’s not a task that can be le� to chance. To learn more about ways to combat this problem, Progressive Grocer spoke with Will Steinmann, Vice President of Sales at Modern Store Equipment. Will is the driving force behind Secure Display, the company’s innova�ve high-security an�-the� system.

Progressive Grocer: Stories about increased store the� are all over the news these days. But we don’t hear as much about the problem you have iden�fied, although it is obviously an issue with major ramifica�ons. What made you tackle this?

Will Steinmann: A�er the response we received to the launch of Secure Display, our innova�ve the�-reduc�on display cases, we started considering other ways we could use the programmable maglock technology. We have over 65 years’ experience with liquor stores, so we turned first to the challenges around alcohol sales. Almost all states have regula�ons about the �mes it’s legal to sell beer, wine, and liquor and those parameters impact any 24-hour store with cases to lock and unlock on �me. It seemed like a very important area that needed a twenty-first century approach.

Progressive Grocer: What was your first step in applying Secure Display’s high-security an�-the� technology to an auto lock and unlock feature?

Secure Display from Modern Store Equipment is a total security solution applied to free standing acrylic-door display cases and glass cooler doors.

Progressive Grocer: Is Secure Display available as a retrofit into exis�ng coolers?

Will Steinmann: The op�mal installa�on is completely new doors but Secure Display can also be retrofit to most cooler doors. While the development of Secure Display required a lot of experience, skill sets, and engineering, the implementa�on has been streamlined.

We see Secure Display as a cri�cal tool in the store of the future. The system allows high-the� merchandise to remain on display while ac�vely protec�ng it from loss. Combining Secure Display acrylic-door cases with Secure Display glass-door coolers means a store can maintain a high-end look while keeping merchandise safe. That is a win for both store owners and shoppers.

Will Steinmann: We spoke to convenience store and grocery store contacts to confirm our hunch that this is an issue. We heard from more than one person who rou�nely sets an alarm for 2AM to call the store to remind the clerk about locking the cases. That was the confirma�on our product development team needed.

We brought all the elements together: quality cooler doors, maglock technology, and programmable app. We created a cohesive system for the coolers containing alcohol products to lock automa�cally at a preset �me, and to unlock at a

Learn more about protecting your high-theft merchandise at modernstoreonline.com/secure

FRESH FOOD

Prepared Foods Supermarket foodservice departments that want to gain a reputation for excellence should expand their assortments and offer more specialized culinary options.

“Retailers can take advantage of that trend by giving consumers information on how to put together the whole meal,” says Rick Stein, VP, fresh foods at Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “Sell them the rotisserie chicken and teach them a recipe on how to make that into a casserole, along with salad and dessert.”

Stein sees an opportunity for foodservice departments to expand assortment and offer more culinary options. He believes that food retailers offering more specialized culinary options can gain a reputation among shoppers for foodservice excellence.

Prepared to the Max HOW RE TAILERS CAN TAKE THEIR PREPARED FOOD AND FOODSERVICE OPER ATIONS TO THE NE X T LE VEL. By Barbara Sax

s consumers settle into a new post-pandemic normal, meal prep habits are shifting. At-home meal consumption, which soared during the height of the pandemic, is now being driven by inflation.

While consumers embraced more from-scratch shopping during the pandemic, they’ve since returned to a preference for easy and convenient meal solutions that they can find at the local grocery store. Nielsen IQ data cited in FMI — The Food Industry Association’s most recent “Power of Foodservice” report shows that deli prepared food dollar and unit sales grew in 2022, along with purchase frequency among heavy buyers.

“We’re increasingly seeing demand for pre-made meals grow as customers look for convenient and affordable meal solutions to supplement their weekly grocery shop,” says Rob Hill, general manager of order ahead at San Francisco-based Instacart. According to Hill, since prepared food and catering items are typically some of the most profitable items sold in-store, retailers have an opportunity to expand their offering for customers, grow loyalty and enhance their businesses overall.

FMI’s research shows that shoppers seeking convenient meal options are embracing a hybrid approach to meal preparation, mixing different types of dinner meal-prep styles — from scratch to prepared meals.

48 progressivegrocer.com

Maximize Strengths

To make the most of their foodservice departments, supermarket retailers should lean into their strengths, experts contend.

“Retailers have different levels of foodservice sophistication,” observes Stein. “Some offer just rotisserie chicken, while others have full sit-down restaurants. We recommend that retailers develop a few ‘reputational’ offerings and emphasize those items in the marketing of their retail foodservice.”

Lewis Shaye, president of Columbia, S.C.based Grocerant Design Group, agrees that narrowing offerings to focus on a specialty in a specific area — whether it’s a sandwich, chicken or pizza program — is a recipe for

Key Takeaways Since prepared food and catering items are among the most profitable items sold in-store, retailers have an opportunity to expand their offering for customers, grow loyalty and enhance their businesses overall.

To make the most of their foodservice departments, supermarket retailers should lean into their strengths, such as narrowing their focus to specialize in a specific area.

Retailers need to promote their foodservice offerings in-store and through their communications channels.

success. “Regional operators need to be distinctive,” advises Shaye.

“They need to offer items that set them apart and create buzz.” He recommends mining for new twists on fan favorites.

“If you’re already doing a great job with rotisserie chicken, adding a French herbal or a citrus-marinated version can really build that business,” suggests Shaye. “A chain offering a sub sandwich program should look at core breads, meats and cheeses to find that twist or local deviation, like a special hot-pepper spread, that makes it unique and special. You can differentiate on shape, size or flavor.”

Shaye notes that in the prepared food segment, supermarket retailers are competing not just with other supermarket chains, but also with fast-casual and quick-serve operators.

Retailers with established strengths are seeing their businesses take off. The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, has become the biggest sushi retailer in the United States, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, while its Home Chef roasted chicken products are “wildly popular” with consumers, since these products “offer convenient and healthy options at affordable prices,” says Teresa Sabatino, director of customer marketing at Home Chef.

“Baked chicken continues to be a customer favorite, along with our Simple Truth Whole Chicken and Home Chef Turkey Breast,” adds Sabatino. “Home Chef’s convenient in-store meal solutions, especially heat-and-eat meals that range from [a] single serving to family size, are customers’ go-to. Additionally, the Home Chef line

Kroger's collaborations with Kitchen United and other ghost kitchens enable shoppers to order fresh food from multiple national, regional and local restaurant brands at the same location.

of Culinary Collection meal kits has proven popular with shoppers who are looking for a little more adventure when it comes to flavors and cooking techniques.”

FMI’s “Power of Foodservice” report stresses the power of localizing offerings to specific markets and offering seasonal and limited items. “If strawberries are in season, throw strawberries and pecans into a prepared salad,” counsels Shaye. “There’s more relevance, and customers feel good about the freshness.”

Meal deals and bundles are another proven strategy for driving sales and trial. “It’s important to offer a variety of options,” says Stein. “One way to do that is

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FRESH FOOD

Prepared Foods Retailers should play to their strengths in the foodservice space, as Costco does with its popular rotisserie chickens, which attract a legion of loyal shoppers.

meal deals and bundles. Another is daily or weekly specials such as a Friday date-night special menu, or Taco Tuesday, Meatless Monday theme days. Combining these special offerings with clear nutrition information is a win for shoppers.”

Raise the Profile of Prepared Foods

One clear message from FMI’s research is that retailers need to raise the profile of their foodservice offerings in-store and through their communications channels.

“Most consumers say grocery deli/prepared foods are a good value compared to eating at a restaurant or ordering takeout, but when asked why they would buy restaurant versus grocery deli/ prepared foods, 43% said that while the latter is a good option, they just don’t think about it,” notes Stein. “Food retailers can do more to market their foodservice offering through traditional and digital channels, including store apps and websites.”

“Eye-catching, shoppable point-of-sale materials that enhance

50 progressivegrocer.com

the shopping experience are of primary importance,” says Lippold, while according to Shaye, “When you start to leverage prepared foods with the power of your circulars and factor in visual cues on carts and other in-store messaging, you start to get synergy among departments.”

Delivery and grab-and-go, which were important during the height of COVID, remain crucial to the success of prepared foods. Shoppers also want drive-thru options, separate checkout in the deli/prepared area, delivery, and outside pickup stations.

Juan De Paoli, VP, Our Brands at Kroger, says that the retailer is focused on providing more ways for customers to get fresh food seamlessly, whether it’s in-store, through Kroger pickup or delivery, or via collaborations with third parties. Its collaborations with Kitchen United and other ghost kitchens in select geographies enable customers to order fresh food from multiple national, regional or local restaurant brands at the same location. “We make it easy for customers by offering in-store pickup or delivery on-demand,” notes De Paoli.

SOLUTIONS

Baking

Cakerate's kits enable grocers to present gorgeously decorated cakes in their in-store bakeries, as well as allowing consumers to beautify their homemade or store-bought cakes.

Kitted Out for Baking Success KITS CAN ENABLE CONSUMERS TO ADD A BIT OF PROFESSIONAL PIZ Z A Z Z TO HOME-BAKED OR STORE-BOUGHT CAKES, OR HELP FAMILIES CRE ATE THEIR OWN BR ANDED BAKED GOODS.

By Bridget Goldschmidt ew things beat a home-baked cake made with love, but let’s face it: They often fall short in the looks department. To meet that need and more, a new company called Cakerate is offering a curated selection of predesigned cake kits that promise to turn a simple homemade or store-bought cake into a work of art, with no special skills necessary.

Cakerate wants to help retailers carve out new space for growth within the in-store bakery by capturing the DIY shopper who doesn’t want to pay the usually exorbitant price of a specialty bakery cake or who would prefer to achieve a designer look at home. Additional benefits include reduced labor expenses, increased kitchen space with less inventory, and plenty of variety through customizable kits that

capture seasonality and regional preferences, according to the Jasper, Ga.-based company.

As well as creating opportunity in the bakery department, Cakerate allows room to grow in the center store bakery aisle, thanks to its innovative approach to cake decoration. By including all of the necessary decorating tools and products in each kit, the company can reduce the amount of shelf space and SKU counts.

“We are actively engaging grocery retailers that are looking to capture the space between cakes currently offered at in-store bakeries today and cakes designed from a specialty bakery,” explains Keera Brooks, CEO of Cakerate and its parent company, Wholesale Sugar Flowers. “We know in this economic time, consumers will continue to spend on indulgences, so Cakerate offers a way for them to save on costs at a specialty bakery without compromising [on] design and quality. Cakerate is also a great way for grocery retailers to attract the hobbyist baker that currently shops in large craft retailers for baking products.”

Endless Possibilities

The company currently offers six predesigned cake kits for various occasions, with retail prices starting at $19.99.

“Each cake kit is designed to include all the decorations for a cake,” explains Brooks. “An example cake kit may include sugar flowers, petal dusts, sugar pearls and edible glitter flakes. The kits do not include ingredients for a cake or icings. Ideally, the customer purchases an iced cake from the bakery, along with our decoration kit.”

According to Brooks, the kits were previously “available through Wholesale Sugar Flowers for years but sold under a generic name and not widely known in the grocery industry. When I acquired the company in 2018, I saw a potential with this category but needed to focus on other areas. The pandemic brought it to the surface again, when the at-home baking surge began and labor challenges surfaced. We are able to help grocery retailers that want to grow their in-store bakery sales but have trouble finding skilled labor. Our kits have detailed instructions, enabling any associate to easily PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

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SOLUTIONS

Baking

I'm the Chef Too! offers family-friendly STEM-based baking kits online, including one enabling home chefs to create Transformers Treat Pops.

assemble [the cakes] on site. We have spent careful time rebranding and curating new designs for retail, and since the Cakerate launch, customers have found the kits to be easy to follow and decorate.”

Brooks believes that her company’s cake-decorating kits have an unlimited future.

“The great thing about Cakerate is that the possibilities are endless,” she notes. “We are looking towards expanding the line to include more kid-friendly, seasonal and holiday [options], as well as wedding kits. And Cakerate will also offer kits that span the bakery, such as a Halloween kit for decorating cupcakes, cookies and brownies, or a football kit with sprinkles in regional team colors and custom images. Cakerate can be designed to fit a grocery retailer’s market needs and consumer demographics.”

Additionally, for families that want to bake together but could use a little guidance, Houston-based I’m the Chef Too! has come out with a Transformers Treat Pops baking kit. The item offers step-by-step instructions as well as everything would-be home pastry chefs — regardless of skill level — need to transform Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and other iconic bots into tasty cake pops. So far available only on the STEM-based baking kit company’s website, the 2-pound kit retails for $36.95.

E-Commerce, Your Way Whichever way your customers want to shop, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us: PSSales@UNFI.com 52 progressivegrocer.com

Have a taste.

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FROZEN FOODS

Ice Cream & Frozen Treats McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, a maker of indulgent products made from the finest ingredients (left), has recently introduced at grocery a line of flash-frozen cookies (below), which the company has offered in its scoop shops for years.

PHOTO BY TANA GANDHI

Cooler Than Ever OFFERINGS PL AY UP HE ALTHY AT TRIBUTES, CONVENIENCE AND INNOVATIVE FL AVORS WHILE STILL OFFERING HIGH QUALIT Y AND INDULGENCE.

By Bridget Goldschmidt hey may be primarily thought of as warm-weather indulgences, but ice cream and frozen treats are popular year-round — in spite of evolving consumer diets, lingering supply chain woes and even inflation.

this partnership helps build our credibility.

Additionally, to entice the trial, Sprouts is offering the yogurt bars to their consumers at a promoted price of $4.99 every day for the remainder of 2023.”

According to Damon, “Over the last few years, we’ve noticed a shift in consumers seeking out frozen options that can accommodate a range of dietary needs, as well as healthier options. ... With Jolly Llama, it is really about the intersection of better-for-you and indulgence.”

As for the varieties offered in the HalfDipped Yogurt Bars line, he observes: “Ice cream fans are constantly looking for new flavors. … Continuing to provide delicious and high-quality products while also ensuring these products continue to satisfy cravings with multiple textures and bold flavors will always be a trend we focus on.”

Accent on Indulgence

Despite better-for-you innovations in this space, the desire for old-school decadence persists — albeit with a difference.

“The McConnell’s customer wants an indulgence,” emphasizes Michael Palmer, owner and CEO of Santa Barbara, Calif.-based McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a dairy whose product lineup includes a new

Raising the Bar

Aware of consumers’ unshakeable love for sweet frozen treats, Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market teamed with Casper’s Ice Cream to showcase the latter company’s Jolly Llama Half-Dipped Yogurt Bars across the grocer’s nearly 400 stores in 23 states. The recently launched line comes in Strawberry ’N Cream, Cool Mint Chip, Coffee Espresso, Lemon Cheesecake and Chocolate Fudge flavors, all containing just 100 calories each.

“In early June, Sprouts began introducing exclusive products to consumers under its New for You labeling program,” notes Reed Damon, chief marketing officer of Richmond, Utah-based Casper’s. “We were thrilled to find out that Jolly Llama would be included in the August edition of this exclusive program. Sprouts shared that it is focused on putting unique products in front of its shoppers, and

54 progressivegrocer.com

Key Takeaways Over the last few years, consumers have been seeking out frozen dessert options that can accommodate a range of dietary needs, as well as healthier options.

Sustainability and personalization are also becoming increasingly important to frozen dessert consumers.

High-quality ingredients and satisfying taste and texture remain important in the category, accentuated by indulgent new flavors.

line of scratch-made organic ice creams. “They trust that we’re going to deliver on the finest ingredients, with flavor profiles that range from classic to more foodie.” Palmer adds that novel seasonal flavors can help keep interest alive when the weather cools.

A key part of McConnell’s business is retail partnerships with such grocers as Encino, Calif.-based Gelson’s, which operates 27 upscale grocery stores in Southern California. “Over many years, they’ve been incredibly supportive,” affirms Palmer. “From a strategic standpoint, they offer valuable insight — relative to the category, certainly, but also in terms of what’s valuable to them and their customer base. … Their deep understanding of our customer has really helped us when it’s come to crafting our go-to-market strategy for some of these new products, whether launching products in new categories or, literally, making key merchandising decisions, from packaging to flavor profiles.”

Along with wellness and personalization, Palmer believes that going forward, sustainability will be an important trend in ice cream and frozen treats. “Packaging is a particular area of interest,” he says. “Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their choices.”

Frozen Disruptors

Who says that frozen treats need to be only ice cream, yogurt or their plant-based equivalents?

This past August, the Jolly Llama Half Dipped Yogurt Bars line from Casper's Ice Cream was exclusively featured at Sprouts Farmers Market stores.

McConnell’s, for one, has debuted a line of 100% made-from-scratch cookies at grocery. According to Palmer: “[T]he cookies are fully baked and flash-frozen, allowing them to be conveniently ready after heating for just a few minutes in the oven. This is something we wanted to do to address consumers’ desires for an elevated yet effortless indulgence we’ve offered in our scoop shops for years.”

Then there’s Sebring, Fla.-based CitraPac Inc., which aims to disrupt the frozen fruit category with Nature’s Premium Fruit Pearls, a cryogenically frozen all-natural snack featuring a combination of real fruit, or fruit and creamy yogurt. Read more about this product on page 24 of Progressive Grocer’s Editors’ Picks in this issue.

BEVERAGES

Fall Beer & Wine Review Layering Up

Turning Points THE ARRIVAL OF COLD WE ATHER BRINGS RICHER NOTES AND THE RE TURN OF HOLIDAY BEER AND WINE FAVORITES. By Lynn Petrak s growers wrap up their harvests of grapes and hops, the seasons are also changing for finished wine and beer products. Grocers shifting out displays of summery seltzers and refreshing ales are making room for different and new varieties from local, national and international suppliers.

Given the fact that the rollout of pumpkin spice offerings has become a harbinger of fall in other drink categories, it’s not surprising that similar-flavored adult beverages have started hitting store shelves and will continue through Halloween and Thanksgiving. In late summer, for example, The Fresh Market, based in Greensboro, N.C., revealed that its roster of fall-themed products would include pumpkin beer.

Many beer makers are bringing back pumpkin brews that are part of their usual rotation, and others are introducing new twists on this autumn favorite. New Belgium Brewing Co., based in Fort Collins, Colo., is mixing it up with Atomic Pumpkin, featuring classic cinnamon spice and pumpkin, along with a spicy habanero pepper flavor. Boston-based Samuel Adams is touting its Jack-O, made with a balance of cinnamon and nutmeg, with citrus tones for added brightness. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, of Milton, Del., is getting a start on the season with Punkin Ale, made with real pumpkin meat and available this year for the first time in cans.

56 progressivegrocer.com

Beyond the pumpkin spice flavor profile, brewers are adding more layers in other ways during the cool season.

As always in this category, evocative product names are designed to grab attention at the shelf, such as Flannel Friday from Boston’s Harpoon Brewery, featuring notes of caramel and roast, and Williamsport, Pa.-based New Trail Brewing Co.’s Flannel Weather New Zealand-style hazy double IPA. The Belgian-style brewer Allagash, located in Portland, Maine, is also going for imagery with its North Sky stout, which features a roasted chocolate flavor that plays off the Belgian yeast.

Another way to make a beer name stand out on shelf is to co-brand it. For example, in time for the fall tailgate season, the University of Southern California Athletics group is teaming up with SoCal brand Stone Brewing to produce a Stone Fight On! Pale Ale. The drink is available at stores, restaurants and bars in the region, in addition to the Los Angeles Coliseum and Galen Center, which are home venues for the USC Trojans teams.

“Stone beers are popular nationwide and across the globe, but SoCal is where we started and is home to our biggest population of fans,” says Erin Smith, VP of marketing at Escondido, Calif.-based Stone Brewing. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to create a beer that instills local pride in that cross-section of craft beer drinkers and USC fans and alumni. It’s our hope that this beer is enjoyed year-

Key Takeaways Beer- and winemakers are getting into the spirit of the season with fuller-bodied products, autumnal flavors such as pumpkin spice, and evocative product names.

Cooler-weather and holiday beers and wines are creeping into assortments earlier than ever, starting in late summer.

Other ongoing trends in the adult beverage category include sustainability and low- and noalcohol offerings.

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©2023 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer.

Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.

BEVERAGES

Fall Beer & Wine Review Allagash's North Sky stout is one of many fall beers that convey seasonality through name and design.

Scan Here round for its incredible fl avor, and that it truly adds to the game-day experience across all USC sports.”

Likewise, the Keystone brand from the Molson Coors Brewing Co., in Golden, Colo., is gearing up for sweater weather with a co-branded fall campaign centered on a popular autumn pastime. To kick off hunting season, the brand is tucking bright-orange cans into seasonal packs of Keystone Light and partnering with Columbus, Ga.-based hunting lifestyle brand Realtree to offer hunters a chance to win merchandise like coolers, jackets, flannels and beanies.

Other craft brews are infused with different signature tastes of the season. Genesee Brewing Co., based in Rochester, N.Y., is promoting its Cran Orange Kellierbier, already available in many stores and complementing its traditional Oktoberfest variety.

Smoky fl avors are also fi nding their way into beers, bringing to mind bonfi res and the deeper fl avors that arrive with autumn.

Juneau-based Alaskan Brewing Co. is introducing a Smoked Porter beer. Other beermakers are also going Old World in this way, offering German-style rauchbier made with smoked malts.

Winemakers are similarly getting into the spirit of the season.

In addition to promoting fuller-bodied wines that pair well with heartier meals as the weather turns, retailers can merchandise wines that have a holiday link. For instance, in addition to its pumpkin beer, The Fresh Market is highlighting a Spellbound Pinot Noir and Ghost Pines Red Blend with a Halloween aesthetic. On the supplier side, Omena, Mich.-based Leelanau Cellars is bringing back its Witches Brew Spiced Red Wine as the leaves in its vineyards turn color.

Rollouts Roll Back

The early push to swap out seasons is arriving earlier than ever, with some CPGs and grocers moving to fall flavors and merchandise in early August and narrowing those displays in late September and October to make way for holiday items.

According to Tiffany Benning, brand manager at Genesee Brewing Co., the company is tinkering with a summertime start.

“There has been an ongoing debate for years about when we should release our fall beers,” she notes, “so we decided that it’s time to let the fans have the floor. We want to hear if people are ready or not.”

This year, Genesee is asking consumers to message the company directly on social media platforms to share their opinions.

Just as pumpkin, apple and Halloween-inspired beers and wines are creeping into assortments earlier, so are holiday offerings. Look for brands like BuzzBallz, based in Carollton, Tex., to get the festivities going as soon as possible; last year, BuzzBallz’s wine-based Chillers included an eggnog variety featuring a rich vanilla flavor and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg over an orange wine base.

UptownCocktails.com © 2023 Southern Champion, Carrollton, Carrollton TX. All Right Reserved. “Enjoy Responsibly.”

The Keystone light brand is taking a different approach to fall themes with a hunting pack and promotion.

PICK YOUR

Also Trending This Season

In addition to seasonal varieties cropping up, there are some other beer and wine trends of note as the year comes to a close.

The push for sustainability continues as beverage brands and grocers work to hit their environmental targets. According to data from Chicago-based NielsenIQ (NIQ) alcohol products with attributes such as “eco-friendly certified” and “responsibly sourced” grew at a faster rate than other products within the total beverage alcohol sector last year.

Imperfect Foods, for its part, is joining Delanco, N.J.-based parent company Misfits Markets in offering shoppers wines that align with the e-grocers’ sustainability values through a variety of organic and sustainable options. The companies began a Rescued Wine program, selling wines with labels that have been lightly marked or scuffed and are no longer bound for store shelves.

Among mainstream grocers, Safeway and its parent, Albertsons Cos., have recently added a curated collection of wines called Vine & Cellar that can be directly shipped to consumers’ homes.

“We are launching Vine & Cellar to give our customers and fellow wine enthusiasts the ability to discover and shop regional and specialty wines from smaller vineyards that are not usually available at national supermarket retailers,” explains Curtis Mann, Master of Wine and group VP of alcohol for Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons.

Meanwhile, even as people get together for occasions like tailgating and holiday parties, some of them are looking for lower-alcohol options. According to a survey commissioned by New York-based NCSolutions, 34% of U.S. consumers report that they’re trying to drink less alcohol in 2023. The survey also showed that 36% of consumers have tried nonalcoholic beer and 12% have sampled alcohol-free wine. NIQ reports that dollar sales of nonalcoholic drinks rose 20.6% between 2021 and 2022, and that 82% of nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirit buyers are also purchasing products that contain alcohol.

One new entry in the field comes from Oceano Wines, a Paso Robles, Calif., winemaker that recently added its first ultra-premium nonalcoholic wine. Additionally, earlier this year, the venerable Dutch brewing company Heineken, whose U.S. headquarters is in White Plains, N.Y., introduced Heineken Silver, a lower-carb, lower-calorie 4% ABV product.

As low-ABV products and the "sober curious" movement gain traction, Oceano Wines has come out with a premium nonalcoholic wine variety. © 2023 BuzzBallz, LLC, Carrollton, TX. Please Drink Responsibly.

© 2022 BuzzBallz, LLC, Carrollton, TX. Please Drink Responsibly.

GUEST VIEWPOINT

Food Safety

Food Safety is Good for Business AN E XPERT OFFERS THREE STEPS FOR GROCERS TO RE ALIGN THEIR FOOD SAFE T Y PROGR AMS.

By Chris Boyles y all signs, the grocery business is looking up. In the first half of 2023, major supermarket chains reported steady performance, increased revenues and heightened e-commerce sales.

However, many grocers are also facing challenges that can put food safety — and their reputations — at risk. To help minimize that risk, now is a great time to re-evaluate your food safety initiatives to be sure they align with your current operations.

The Ripple Effect of a Labor Shortage on Food Safety

Finding and keeping store-level help remain issues for many locations. This prolonged labor shortage can affect food safety. As managers work to keep operations running smoothly, food safety training for new team members can be cut short or not take place at all. Even tenured staff members might be tempted to take shortcuts as they juggle a busier workload than usual.

This can mean that tasks that are time-consuming or that don’t appear to have an immediate impact on food safety can get skipped. For example, keeping a temperature log requires training time and a commitment to logging temperatures throughout the day. When temperatures aren’t logged repeatedly, it can lead to critical food safety infractions or important equipment maintenance not being addressed.

Increases in New Practices, But No Updated Policies

Another challenge that many stores are facing is the swift uptick in curbside pickup and delivery orders. As these channels have continued to increase post-pandemic, many stores have adopted procedures to accommodate these consumer behaviors. Yet some retailers haven’t implemented formalized food safety practices, leaving significant gaps that can put consumer health at risk.

Third-party delivery presents other challenges. Once products are picked up, the store has little control over the time it takes to deliver, safe handling and potential contamination. When problems occur, however, buyers tend to point the finger at the organization they ordered from. In a survey of 3,000 North American adults conducted in the fall of 2022, when Steritech asked consumers who they felt was ultimately responsible if an online order didn’t meet their expectations (inaccurate, delivered at the wrong temperature, etc.), 55% blamed the store or outlet they ordered from, while only 28% blamed the third-party delivery service.

Three Steps to Realign Your Food Safety Program

Given these challenges, retailers must take extra steps to ensure that food safety remains top of mind for every worker across their ecosystems. Now is an opportune time to re-evaluate your organization’s food safety policies and practices. To make that process more manageable, center your efforts on these three key areas:

60 progressivegrocer.com

1

Craft an organization-wide food safety commitment statement Food safety begins at the top in any organization. To give employees across your enterprise a guidepost and a universal rallying point, implement a written food safety commitment statement. This statement can be part of your mission statement or stand alone, but it should be short and memorable.

An example of a strong food safety statement might sound something like this: “We are committed to providing our customers with safe, high-quality products in clean, well-organized stores, staffed by highly trained, friendly associates who prioritize customer service and convenience.”

The statement should be put into practice, help guide leaders’ business decisions, be discussed regularly and be modeled by leaders at every level of the organization. It should be written and highly visible on a variety of channels so it remains top of mind for employees every day.

Another great way to live out your statement is in customer-facing communications. For example, one major grocery retailer prints safe cooking temperatures on its plastic bags in the meat department. If your store offers meal kits, print food safety reminders on the recipe card. For prepared food areas, simple stickers that remind your customers of food safety practices, such as “Refrigerate after use,” can reinforce your brand’s commitment to shoppers’ safety.

2

Implement or review your food safety management system A food safety management system (FSMS) is defined as a structured process implemented by a food establishment to ensure that its practices reduce the risk of foodborne illness and produce the safest foods possible. Every food retailer should have a documented FSMS in place and ensure that it’s understood by managers and front-line workers who are tasked with high-risk work. Doing so can have a dramatic impact on performance.

Based on a study done on supermarket delis by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, delis where the person in charge at the time of the inspection could discuss the organization’s well-developed food safety management systems had nearly half the number of cited issues.

If your store doesn’t already have an FSMS in place, begin with identifying food safety risks by department or area. Include the following three elements: Procedures that document critical limits or steps, as well as the proper processes to control the risk.

Training for everyone who engages in that behavior, including clearly established guidelines of who conducts the training.

Monitoring of the procedure to ensure the proper process is being followed.

Examples of high-risk practices can be found in the FDA’s 2021 study on food retail delis. The agency focused on 10 key practices that included proper handwashing, protecting food from cross-contamination, properly cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces, cold and hot holding, and proper cooking temperatures.

If your store has an FSMS in place, you’re already in a great position. However, consider testing your managers’ knowledge of the FSMS. If they don’t know it, implement training initiatives to ensure that they have a good working knowledge of it.

3

Employ a continuous-improvement process To ensure that food safety remains protected, retailers should commit to using a continuous-improvement process in their food safety plan. This involves holding the organization (and its people) accountable for food safety goals.

The first step in a continuous-improvement process is identifying where improvements are needed and establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success. This should be a focused list of a few key areas where improvements will make a substantial difference to food safety and, ultimately, your customers and brand.

Here are two examples of a well-constructed KPI. Organizational New-hire training completion rate: Improve average number of days for employee food safety certification from 20 days to 15 days.

Department-specific Citations on quarterly third-party inspections: Reduce average critical issues in bakery from 1.9 to 1.5 within the next six months.

Mobilize your teams around your KPIs. Be sure that everyone in the organization knows them. Whether they play an active role in achieving the KPI, everyone has a part to play in supporting their teammates in reaching goals.

Adopt a “Plan, Do, Check, Act” approach to ensure that your KPIs and other critical food safety processes aren’t just static targets, but that the organization is holding itself accountable and continually taking steps to make incremental improvements.

While every organization is different, there are many ways to practically implement a continuous-improvement process for food safety. Consider these steps as part of your planning: Include food safety responsibilities or KPIs in job descriptions

Customers who observe your employees culling produce, notice the sparkling-clean display cases or pick up a meal kit with clear food safety instructions will know that your store is committed to their health and satisfaction. and discuss them in performance reviews. This ensures that individuals understand the importance of food safety and see it as part of their job responsibilities.

Leverage an independent third-party organization to conduct regular food safety evaluations. Having an objective, outside review of your food safety practices can help provide a clear picture of where your organization needs to focus its efforts.

Empower your teams through a formalized self-evaluation process. Having your teams conduct evaluations of their own performance can help them identify areas of concern and work to improve them before they become issues. However, conducting self-evaluations requires special skills. Those performing them should be trained in how to inspect, how to document what they’re seeing and how to investigate for root cause.

Perception is Everything

Consumer awareness of public-health and -safety issues is at an all-time high. While many food safety practices may go unobserved, there are just as many that can be visible to your customers. Produce that isn’t rotated regularly can attract fruit flies, malfunctioning coolers can develop condensation or frost, and employees who are sick while working are examples of issues that can make customers question your brand’s commitment to food safety and to their health.

On the other hand, customers who observe your employees culling produce, notice the sparkling-clean display cases or pick up a meal kit with clear food safety instructions will know that your store is committed to their health and satisfaction. That can give a boost to customer trust and loyalty and drive sales. Implementing documented, detailed food safety plans isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also good for your business.

As VP of food safety, Chris Boyles manages the consulting and regulatory affairs functions for Charlotte, N.C.-based Steritech. This includes leading consulting services such as program gap analysis, crisis management and research projects. He also oversees Steritech’s OneLook service, which consolidates and standardizes regulatory inspection data. Prior to Steritech, he was responsible for quality assurance of private label products at Harris Teeter Supermarkets.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

61

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TECHNOLOGY

Shelf-Edge Solutions The potential of in-store digital selling is becoming increasingly evident, and grocers that have become more involved in omnichannel operations have recognized the advantages available if they can interact with customers in stores as they do online. However, many grocers have yet to begin, or are only somewhat involved in, up-to-date shelf-edge technology.

According to Chapman, Samsung is not only helping grocers that are already sophisticated in their use of in-store technology, but also those who are taking their first steps. One way the company does so is by helping them look at a store in a compartmentalized fashion, building on the different ways that consumers shop and that retailers present goods across different departments.

Focusing Investments The shelf edge is where shoppers arrive at final purchasing decisions, and technology that provides relevant product information or makes a clear value pitch can become the final factor that converts a browser into a buyer.

Leading Edge NE W TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS ARE A ENABLE GROCERS TO BE T TER CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS IN AN INCRE ASINGLY OMNICHANNEL WORLD.

Although ESLs that can be automatically updated get a lot of attention, many grocers that are interested in shelf-edge tech investments shy away from a commitment to — and the cost of — ESLs early on. Chapman says that these grocers generally favor smaller investments in screens that focus more on product information and messaging, and then look at return on investment. Samsung works with customers to focus investments where there are better opportu-

By Mike Duff

helf-edge and related technologies are rapidly evolving, becoming less costly and more capable while providing options that allow grocers and other retailers choices in how they want to invest for the maximum benefit.

Samsung, for one, is working with retailers to get them onboard with in-store digital technologies, applying its knowledge of video, networks and software to support applications that can satisfy multiple goals, from reducing labor to supporting promotions. It no longer makes electronic shelf labels (ESLs), but it works with companies that produce them and uses its own expertise to give grocers access to what shelf-edge technology can do for them, whether they want to initiate a program, upgrade an existing one, or explore new opportunities such as in-store advertising, a capability that Samsung supports.

Parrish Chapman, senior director, enterprise retail sales, key accounts at Samsung Electronics America, in Ridgefield Park, N.J., describes the opportunity that grocers have when it comes to shelf-edge technology as “massive,” given the store traffic that such initiatives can reach.

64 progressivegrocer.com

Key Takeaways Shelf edge isn’t just about optimizing price and promotion, although that can and should be a key consideration in a storebased digital effort.

In-store digital technology can include branding content and feel-good messaging meant as much for employees as for customers, and which can even help with retention.

Shelf-edge tech can also couple with inventory management using AI-powered algorithms to predict product demand and inventory levels more accurately, and support in-store navigation systems that guide customers to specific products.

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TECHNOLOGY

Shelf-Edge Solutions nities to drive business, bringing its expertise with content to bear in that effort.

“You can divide the store up into shops-within-a-shop, and let’s say we talk about the candy aisle,” he notes. “We can create a whole digital experience for the candy aisle that is amazing. We know, with this technology, if the traffic goes up or down, if dwell time is increasing, and if you stay longer, you buy more.”

Shelf edge isn’t just about optimizing price and promotion, although that can and should be a key consideration in a storebased digital effort. A narrow focus on price will become less effective over time if unsupported by feature displays that handle other kinds of messaging. ESLs that are more capable than those narrowly displaying price, including those with squared configurations or that add bibs containing additional information, can provide support. The opportunity is to offer content and even shopping support to consumers in-store that encourages interaction and, as a consequence, more purchasing. Samsung is working with and even developing software to give grocers advantages that are consistent with their operations. For example, it’s sourcing sophisticated weather data and applying it in the food retailing case.

“We’re doing forecasting; we’re doing weather triggers and alerts on weather,” affirms Chapman. “Weather is becoming this issue in America, and we want to use it to build branding. So [in] all our launches now, we’re including weather as an intellectual product to capture people’s attention.”

He adds: “Most CEOs say we need to get 15% sales growth.

What we tell our clients is: ‘Where are we going to focus that in stores? Where do you want it to come from?’ That’s where this content is so important. You have to have a balanced content approach. We’re talking about the proper location, and you provide something that’s fun and informative and interactive.”

Getting Started

Shelf-edge technology programs can start with the use of dedicated tags that convey information relevant to where they’re placed, whether as an element on an ESL or even a paper tag, or a tablet screen on an end cap. In one example, a store could put in several small shelf-mounted screens that focus attention on a range of content, including product information, deals, loyalty program features, and even social media, which, if properly deployed, can keep the conversation started in-store going when the consumer is outside the store.

By starting with more informational displays, including larger screens on end caps and split screens meant to include informational and pricing presentations for a particular section, grocers can see the value and get a sense of what the investment return is on shelf-edge and associated technology. It’s then that consideration of ESLs can become more attractive. Beyond marketing and pricing, in-store digital technology can include branding content and feel-good messaging meant as much for employees as for customers, and which can even help with retention. Thereafter, monetization becomes part of the discussion. According to Chapman, going in with monetization as the first priority isn’t the best way to get involved with shelf-edge technology if a grocer is going to get the

68 progressivegrocer.com

maximum benefit. Samsung can help with the network it developed, however.

A Different Perspective

Based in Preston, Victoria, in Australia, In2Digital is a strategy and advisory firm that works on shelf-edge technology, including Samsung display systems.

Founder and CEO Francesca Surace says that supermarkets and other retailers in the markets in which In2Digital engages are placing more emphasis on productivity, and that becomes an inducement to working with internet-linked ESLs and other digital signage that require little human interaction.

Supermarkets and other retailers “are placing a greater emphasis on productivity benefits, which involves reducing the number of floor staff required to perform traditional, labor-intensive labeling updates,” she notes. “Some retailers are investigating the potential wider business benefits that come with full backend integration, such as linking in-store digital signage and an event-driven IoT [Internet of Things] ecosystem.”

According to Surace, digital signage offers different retailers opportunities in tune with their operations.

“High-end fashion stores may use larger ESLs and digital shelf-edge displays that showcase more marketing information, while fresh food stores may use larger ESLs to display nutrition information,” she says. “The ESL market offers a variety of label options to cater to diverse use cases, from simple grocery stores to mobile phone shops that use NFC tap for more product information or back-end stock displays. These technologies are flexible and valuable tools for businesses.”

Although some retailers look at shelf-edge technology in a limited way right now, especially for productivity gains, grocers and other store runners can take a broader view across a much wider range of opportunities when devices such as ESLs are combined with other advancing tech.

“With integration in back-end software and IOT, coupled with the emerging capability of AI, we can expect to see significant advances in the use case of these technologies and solutions,” predicts Surace. “Key areas include dynamic pricing using AI to automatically gather competitive pricing and recommend price changes, and personalized promotion that can be displayed on ESLs, providing customers with personalized deals and recommendations as they walk through the store.”

“When you talk about pricing optimization, you become more efficient [and] you become more effective promotionally.”

—Matt Pavich, Revionics

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TECHNOLOGY

Shelf-Edge Solutions Shelf-edge technology can also couple with inventory management using AI-powered algorithms to predict product demand and inventory levels more accurately, thereby reducing instances of out-of-stocks and overstocks. In terms of data, retailers can use AI to analyze customer demographics and shopping behaviors, and display location-specific advertisements on ESLs. In doing so, they can help promote products that are relevant to local customers. Shelf-edge technology can also support in-store navigation systems that guide customers to specific products using interactive maps displayed on ESLs.

Consistent Results

Matt Pavich, senior director of strategy and innovation at Alpharetta, Ga.-based Revionics, a pricing optimization solutions provider for retailers, notes that ESLs today have a solid business case behind them as technology and the market have evolved in areas such as price optimization. Even the hardware itself has become more formidable, with longer battery life that can keep an individual ESL working for eight years and sometimes 10.

However, pricing optimization and promotion, combined with shelf-edge technology, can provide substantial returns. According to Pavich, well-managed price optimization and promotion have allowed Revionics customers to outperform the market, gain share and even grab customers from rivals. Pricing optimization strategies using AI to gather relevant data provide grocers and other retailers a better understanding of what prices and discounts have the maximum effect in different locations. They can even save retailers money by demonstrating how deep a discount is enough to generate the sales wanted.

Because the use of tools such as price optimization is based on exacting science, grocers can get consistent results and even venture into predictive analysis to deal with situations on the horizon.

“When you talk about pricing optimization, you become more efficient [and] you become more effective promotionally,” says Pavich.

He makes the point that price optimization backed by AI has been around for quite a while, powering the constant price changes that are commonplace in e-commerce. Given the familiarity that today’s grocers have with omnichannel strategy, more executives than ever are eager to apply these types of solutions in stores, as they already do digitally. As its integration in physical stores becomes more sophisticated, personalization becomes part of the equation. Stores won’t be changing prices for individual customers, but a loyalty app can direct them to the promotions that are most relevant to them.

The combination of shelf-edge technology and price optimization can have a dramatic effect in-store. Labor savings on price changes is an immediate result, given that retailers can now change an ESL automatically. Not only does it enable an employee to go from working on shelves to working with customers, it also eliminates concern about how many price changes can be made in a day, given the available labor.

Ryan Yost, VP general manager at Avery Dennison, suggests that three elements should be in place to maximize the potential of shelf-edge technology: labor efficiency, sales uplift, and customer engagement as a means of building loyalty.

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Paper Trail

Still, if ESLs get a lot of attention, many grocers have tapped solutions that don’t require investment in individual ESLs but deliver many of their benefits if consistently applied.

Ryan Yost, VP general manager at Avery Dennison, in Mentor, Ohio, estimates that 95% of the work that he does in shelf-edge technology, including with the company’s Vestcom business, involves paper, with just 5% involving ESL. He contends that grocers don’t need to rely on any single shelf-edge technology. In situations with highly promotional goods or those otherwise subject to frequent price changes, ESL may be ideal. Still, for products that typically have only a few regular price changes over the course of a year, the investment might not be worth it.

Paper tags such as the ones Avery Dennison offers, which don’t just offer price, but also have space for messaging, may make more sense for product categories where pricing is consistent. What’s more, the labels are easy to mount and come in a stack that’s subject to an automated process in printing, so that each is sequenced. An employee with a stack of tags can start at the beginning of the first aisle and proceed along the shelf directly, as the tags correspond to the order of products as merchandised. The result is significant labor savings as opposed to the old way of doing things that had employees hunting around the store to find the right place to mount a tag.

The labels also include space for promotional messages and other means of reaching out to the shopper. Messaging can let the consumer know that an item is new, what other products might be purchased in combination with it to assemble meals, and how the company behind the item is addressing social issues, and it can also link to social media accounts and posts.

Yost suggests that three elements should be in place to maximize the potential of shelf-edge technology: labor efficiency, sales uplift, and customer engagement as a means of building loyalty. Today, more capable ESLs, advanced paper tags, and video displays on end caps and even on coldcase doors can be combined as appropriate to provide grocers with positive results on the cost and sales side. Some emerging benefits that shelf-edge technology can provide include the ability to locate where a consumer is on the floor, what their preferences tend to be and what promotions they might consider. Privacy considerations have to be addressed, but when marketers have the ability to offer the consistent purchaser of granola who hasn’t bought any in a while a coupon while that shopper is passing the cereal display, more of the potential of shelf-edge technology will be achieved.

EQUIPMENT & DESIGN

Displays

Display solutions might be overlooked by the everyday shopper, but having the right hardware can help grocers increase sales.

Center Stage CURRENT DISPL AY SOLUTIONS CAN HELP INCRE ASE SALES FOR GROCERS BY HIGHLIGHTING PRODUCTS IN A UNIQUE WAY.

By Emily Crowe hile grocery display solutions are some of the most overlooked aspects of brick-andmortar stores by customers, it’s no secret that they can play a pivotal role in lifting sales. Today’s displays are all about putting certain items front and center, but how can retailers find the right mix of product, location and hardware to maximize sales?

Mix It Up

Perhaps the most important consideration when looking at display solutions isn’t the hardware itself, but what should go on top of it and how it can flexibly meet that need. From popular store-brand items and seasonal snacks to the

latest and greatest in bakery and meats, displays should be able to easily and effectively showcase products that can help drive the bottom line.

Bridgeton, Mo.-based Hussmann offers myriad display case options, and those made for specialty items like artisan bread and aged beef can help

Key Takeaways Displays should be able to easily and effectively showcase products that can help drive the bottom line.

Location is another extremely important consideration when looking at display solutions.

Attractiveness, as well as a level of interactivity, in display solutions can also help lead to increased sales.

PROGRESSIVE GROCER September 2023

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EQUIPMENT & DESIGN

Displays

spotlight products that can make a big impact on sales. The company’s Aged Beef Service Merchandiser has a stainless steel interior and can prominently display several cuts of meat, while its Artisan Bread Wall Case features five adjustable lighted levels for optimal product placement.

Stone crab is another specialty item that grocers can put front and center in a novel way, thanks to custom mobile displays from Garland, Texas-based Atlantic Food Bars. The Iced Stone Crab Merchandiser helps enhance the in-store experience while also offering an add-on mobile clam bar that can hold everything from grab-and-go accessories to iced fresh seafood, crab meat, cold packaged foods, and more.

ALCO Designs, meanwhile, has several types of produce tables that can help grocers refresh their displays and pack even more of a fresh product punch. The Gardena, Calif.-based company’s displays offer what it calls “the ultimate in sensory and visual fulfillment” through modular designs that can easily be updated, as well as built-in shelves that create storage for additional products and provide a great opportunity for cross-merchandising.

X Marks the Spot

In addition to product mix, location is another extremely important consideration when looking at display solutions. Hardware such as island displays and point-of-purchase shelving should be located strategically throughout the store to help encourage cross-merchandising opportunities as well as impulse buys.

According to Racine, Wis.-based Great Northern Instore, “When it comes to promoting products in-store, shoppers can be motivated to buy with a variety of tactics. Great Northern Instore applies proven insights to design activations with the

“Whether your product is a simple everyday snack or part of a gourmet dining experience, customers are likely to make impulse purchases based on artful food retail display signs.”

—Great Northern Instore

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Great Northern Instore developed a gravity-feed merchandising solution to give Pringles additional placement at Meijer stores.

right colors, images [and] structure for an in-store location, so you can tantalize the taste buds of any shopper. Whether your product is a simple everyday snack or part of a gourmet dining experience, customers are likely to make impulse purchases based on artful food retail display signs.”

Great Northern makes custom food merchandising displays that help give certain products prominence in any aisle, end cap or front-of-store area. The company developed a merchandising vehicle to give Pringles additional placement at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer, for example, by placing gravity-feed solutions on top of coolers at checkout to help drive additional impulse purchases.

Get the Look

Attractiveness, as well as a level of interactivity, in display solutions can also help lead to increased sales. Hussmann’s Isla, for example, is a unique “design-your-own island” merchandiser that offers retailers a flexible way to display refrigerated, hot and dry items all in the same unit. A variety of product types can be aligned and placed with precision inside the unit, giving customers a lot to look at in a sleek and streamlined package.

When it comes to interactivity, companies like Durham, N.C.-based The Looma Project are offering tech-forward, immersive product experiences on existing shelves or at new displays. The Looma Project’s Loop product consists of a network of smart tablets installed in grocery stores to connect shoppers to the people who made the products, via authentic storytelling or education. Loop says that its offering is two to three times more productive than traditional end caps, and also promises 92% growth of trial rate for featured brands.

Refresh Your Salad Displays Maximize merchandising space with NEXT™ 2.0 salad trays

NEXT™ 2.0 Trays

Increase sales with a fuller, more attractive display NEXT™ 2.0 salad trays allows retailers to increase merchandising space and improve product visibility. Each item remains faced and visible to the customer for easy product selection.

By incorporating NEXT™ 2.0 salad trays into a planogram, retailers can expand the selection of products displayed in the cooler aisle and showcase the freshness and variety of salads by keeping the product facing forward. This simplifies customer decision-making by providing easy access to each product.

Retailers can further reduce labor costs and simplify restocking with the NEXT™ 2.0 pull-out tray option. Customers benefit from a more organized and cohesive layout featuring enhanced product depth and merchandising which, in turn, increases sales.

NEXT™ 2.0 trays are available with integrated baffles, to maintain proper airflow through the cooler

AHEAD OF WHAT’S NEXT

By Bridget Goldschmidt

A Dream Come True A CHICAGO NONPROFIT EMPLOYS SMART LOCKERS TO ALLE VIATE FOOD INSECURIT Y. new Save A Lot store on Chicago’s South Side has become the site of an innovative solution to food insecurity: To mark its third anniversary, nonprofit organization Dion’s Chicago Dream has launched The Dream Vault, a locker-based system to dispense fresh produce to those in need.

The network-enabled bank of lockers is designed to provide 200 households living within a 1-mile radius of the store with fresh fruits and vegetables, at no cost to them. Every week, a recipient can enter a code and pick up a box of produce.

‘Natural Progression’

Asked how the solution came about, Dion Dawson, founder and “chief dreamer” of Dion’s Chicago Dream, explains: “The Dream Vault was inspired by the smart locker system and is a natural progression of what we’ve already been doing — providing fresh, quality produce to food-insecure households in the Chicagoland area. I wanted to scale up by “There’s never been a tool providing an option that not only to fight food insecurity would help residents, but would with quality options in a attract people to a local business, retail environment, so this thereby incentivizing the busiis transformative in the ness’ participation in fighting nonprofit space, and we hope it will provide a model food insecurity. We worked with Luxer One to build the locker for other organizations to and with Save A Lot on the locascale up the services they tion. There’s never been a tool to are able to provide.” fight food insecurity with quality —Dion Dawson, Dion’s Chicago Dream options in a retail environment, so this is transformative in the nonprofit space, and we hope it will provide a model for other organizations to scale up the services they are able to provide.”

As for the choice of grocery store, “Save A Lot was my original target because I wanted this first Dream Vault to be located in Englewood,” notes Dawson, referencing his home neighborhood. “I went to them with the idea, and they jumped on it.”

More to Come

Since the program’s debut this past August, it’s been a win-win for all involved. “Save A Lot is very pleased with The Dream Vault,” says Dawson. “It’s low maintenance and brings in new shoppers.

The recipients are very happy with the ease of use and are impressed with the ingenuity of the design.”

The plan is to launch at least four more Dream Vaults throughout Chicago with other partners by the end of the year. “We’re looking at the next launch to begin around Thanksgiving,” affirms Dawson, adding: “We intend to expand to larger 74 progressivegrocer.com

Dion’s Chicago Dream founder and “Chief Dreamer” Dion Dawson (top) was proudly on hand when The Dream Vault, a locker-based system pioneered by his nonprofit, went live at a South Side Save A Lot.

retail chains so that this tool is available across the city, and eventually in every corner of the country. Access to fresh, quality food is a human right, and for us, fighting food insecurity doesn’t stop in Chicago. This is a nationwide crisis, a worldwide crisis. We want to provide as many people as possible with access to healthy food when they need it.”

That may seem an ambitious goal, but over the past three years of its existence, Dion’s Chicago Dream has already provided more than 600,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to households in need throughout the Chicagoland area through its Dream Fridge and Dream Deliveries programs. For now, however, at least one of the nonprofit’s dreams has become a reality as it pioneers the use of frictionless grocery technology to aid some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Bridget Goldschmidt Managing Editor bgoldschmidt@ensemleiq.com