Deep Dive: Page 5
Industry insights from our journalists
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Veggies lead the way as value-added produce sales climb
The sub-category has been on a roll, and it could heat up even more as innovation continues and consumers further embrace plant-based eating.
Jessica Dumont • April 15, 2019 -
Anchors away: Why grocers are heading to the mall
With vacancy rates high and department stores including Sears and J.C. Penney vacating anchor locations, food retailers are moving in.
Krishna Thakker • April 9, 2019 -
Restaurant brands are open for business on grocery shelves
CPGs want consumers to dine in with P.F. Chang's frozen meals, Nestlé's California Pizza Kitchen line and other offerings.
Christopher Doering • April 9, 2019 -
Alternative proteins could become a food staple for more US consumers
A growing number of people are turning to products that are less taxing on the environment as the world's population increases.
Jessi Devenyns • March 26, 2019 -
FreshDirect fights back
CEO David McInerney said the e-grocer is "turning up the throttle" at its new New York City fulfillment center as it battles for customers and pushes into new markets.
Krishna Thakker • March 25, 2019 -
Beyond bells and whistles: How grocery apps are (and should be) evolving
From couponing to wayfinding to online ordering, retailers' mobile offerings are still a work in progress, experts say.
Jessica Dumont • March 18, 2019 -
To thrive in retail, Target needs to boost its grocery business
The company's food and beverage segment has struggled in the past and still seems to be a work in progress, analysts say.
Jessica Dumont • Updated March 5, 2019 -
As robots invade the grocery aisle, a promising but uncertain future awaits
Automating everything from stock checks to floor scrubbing can save retailers money, but even cute googly-eyed robots have their detractors.
Christopher Doering • Feb. 26, 2019 -
Assessing Amazon: Is the e-tailer aiming for grocery dominance?
Industry experts weigh in on its plans to open more Whole Foods locations and what else might be in store from the online giant this year.
Jessica Dumont • Feb. 4, 2019 -
5 takeaways from FMI's Midwinter Executive Conference
This year's discussion focused on solutions to the multitude of challenges supermarkets face, from digital transformation to shifting consumer preferences.
Jeff Wells • Jan. 30, 2019 -
'Hey Alexa, what's the future of voice ordering for groceries?'
Analysts say the technology still has too much friction for convenience-seeking shoppers, but that major changes will happen over the next five to 10 years.
Krishna Thakker • Jan. 29, 2019 -
What can US retailers learn from China?
Stores like Alibaba's Hema offer a vision of the future for American grocers, but experts say creating a similarly seamless omnichannel experience isn't easy — and may not be possible.
Jessica Dumont • Jan. 22, 2019 -
Smartphones to store transformations: 6 grocery trends to watch in 2019
Experts say retailers will continue to remake the shopping experience this year with investments in key areas like delivery, mobile innovation and creative partnerships.
Jeff Wells and Krishna Thakker • Jan. 7, 2019 -
Why cannabis is more than just a buzzy investment for food and beverage companies
Changing attitudes, consumer acceptance and legalization have shifted the substance from lazy stoners to big businesses.
Megan Poinski • Dec. 18, 2018 -
Grocery Outlet rides the discount wave
The extreme-value grocer, which plans to open 40 stores in 2019, sees an opportunity to go national with its deep discounts on name brands.
Jessica Dumont • Dec. 17, 2018 -
Will automation take online grocery to the next level?
Using robots to fill and deliver orders promises to save retailers money and boost consumer demand, but with the technology still in its test phase, the broader impact remains unclear.
Jeff Wells • Dec. 10, 2018 -
Farmstead takes a tech-first approach to online grocery
The retailer's cheap, speedy delivery and artificial intelligence-powered sourcing model could help it make headway against a growing slate of competitors.
Krishna Thakker • Dec. 10, 2018 -
It's not easy being green: Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak rattles food, grocery industries
The FDA's decision to request that the popular green gets pulled from shelves sent "a strong message" to the produce sector, according to a former agency official, while costing supermarkets millions of dollars in losses.
Christopher Doering • Dec. 10, 2018 -
'No second thoughts': Assessing the Ahold Delhaize merger two years later
The company says it has achieved significant cost savings and is ready to expand, but experts question whether it has done enough to differentiate itself from competitors.
Christopher Doering • Nov. 27, 2018 -
3 measures on the ballot that could impact food and grocery
Voters will decide whether to ban all new grocery taxes — including those on soda — in Washington and Oregon, and may change animal welfare requirements for meat and eggs sold in California.
Lillianna Byington • Nov. 6, 2018 -
What's the secret sauce behind Mariano's store experience?
At Groceryshop last week, the Chicagoland chain along with a few others offered tips on how to turn locations into destinations.
Jeff Wells • Nov. 5, 2018 -
Just-ified: How FreshDirect's private brand is winning over online shoppers
Six years after its founding, the e-grocer's Just brand is focused on transparency and leveraging data to create one-of-a-kind selections.
Krishna Thakker • Nov. 5, 2018 -
How can grocers solve the labor equation?
With unemployment at a historic low and retailers on hiring sprees, employers will need to offer benefits and wages that stand out from the competition in order to attract and retain talent.
Jessica Dumont • Nov. 5, 2018 -
How M&A brings new products and fresh insight to Big Food
From knowledge about plant-based foods to sourcing organic crops, buyers are looking for more than cost savings when they make a purchase — but those benefits can sometimes be hard to find.
Christopher Doering • Oct. 30, 2018 -
IGA's CEO is bringing independents into the new age
One year into his tenure, John Ross is delivering cutting-edge data and e-commerce solutions to stores. But will it be enough to compete effectively against larger chains?
Jeff Wells • Oct. 17, 2018