Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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‘Shrinkflation’ is far less common than consumers realize
Across consumer goods and services, only a small number of items measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics experience downsizing each year, writes Dr. Ernest Baskin of Saint Joseph's University.
Ernest Baskin, Ph.D. • Aug. 27, 2024 -
Prostock-Studio via Getty Images
How the food industry is remaining resilient and innovative
Grocers are leveraging private brands and expanding fresh foods departments to meet consumer demands for better quality and variety, writes FMI – The Food Industry Association President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin.
Leslie G. Sarasin • Aug. 5, 2024 -
Leon Neal via Getty Images
Debunking generative AI myths for grocers
The fast-evolving technology is neither a passing fad nor a silver bullet, writes Bobby Gibbs with Oliver Wyman. Here’s how grocers should approach it.
Bobby Gibbs • Oct. 10, 2023 -
SeventyFour via Getty Images
Why grocers must reinvest in food safety culture
Leading food retailers drive food safety leadership through preventative systems, not just checking off items on a list, writes Sally Robinson with Upshop.
Sally Robinson • Feb. 22, 2023 -
Courtesy of Kroger
How regional grocers can leverage the Kroger-Albertsons merger to fuel growth
The combined mega-grocer would pose a significant threat — but there are ways for smaller chains to pivot and pick up valuable resources, write David Ritter and Conor Gaffney with Alvarez & Marsal.
David Ritter and Conor Gaffney • Nov. 7, 2022 -
FG Trade via Getty Images
3 questions grocers should ask before investing in tech
Retailers need to find simple, easy-to-use solutions that give time back to workers as well as motivate them, writes Shamus Hines, CEO of Applied Data Corporation.
Shamus Hines • Aug. 1, 2022 -
carlballou via Getty Images
The crisis after the crisis: What grocers can expect after an active shooter incident
Food retail managers should be prepared to handle external communication and support for victims and their families in the aftermath of violence, writes security expert William Flynn.
William Flynn • March 22, 2022 -
Permission granted by The Giant Company
When inflation runs high, fresh should be a strategic focus
Customers are still prioritizing fresh purchases, but retailers risk losing price-sensitive shoppers entirely when their key value items are no longer affordable, writes Ann Azzopardi of Symphony RetailAI.
Ann Azzopardi • March 15, 2022 -
Jeff Wells/Grocery Dive
Why convenience retailers are gearing up to win in foodservice
As vehicles go electric, stores will increasingly turn away from fuel pumps and toward innovative meals and snacks, writes retail analyst Frank Beard.
Frank Beard • Jan. 6, 2022 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
How a grocer's size impacts consumer trust
Large retailers envy intimacy and small ones envy scale, but expectations for each are not the same, write Katie Thomas and Tanya Moryoussef of Kearney.
Katie Thomas and Tanya Moryoussef • Nov. 29, 2021 -
Barry Williams/Getty Images via Getty Images
3 ways grocery execs can protect the bottom line during hurricane season and beyond
Companies can prepare ahead of time in the event severe weather strikes, writes Tom Buiocchi, founder and CEO of ServiceChannel.
Tom Buiocchi • Aug. 20, 2021 -
Permission granted by Steven J. Frenda
How Amazon's user-generated content strategy could boost its grocery stores
The e-tailer has quietly rolled out product ratings inside its Amazon Fresh locations. The strategy promises to build consumer trust, particularly for its private labels, writes Peter V.S. Bond.
Peter V.S. Bond • May 17, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Supermarkets are in for the fight of their lives
As nontraditional retailers and upstarts grab a larger share of sales, grocers need to master the entire digital domain, writes Gary Hawkins of the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology.
Gary Hawkins • May 3, 2021 -
Retrieved from Instacart on March 02, 2021
Examining the 3 faces of Instacart
The delivery juggernaut has changed the way people buy groceries, but food retailers are now more closely weighing the pros and cons of partnering with the company, writes Natalie Williams with NielsenIQ.
Natalie Williams • April 22, 2021 -
Here's how grocers should ramp up digital deals and promotions
Embracing online coupons and offering discounts on e-commerce services can help grocers reach more low-income and price-sensitive shoppers, writes Nick Minnick of Chicory.
Nick Minnick • Dec. 17, 2020 -
Courtesy of Sam's Club
How grocers are turning to personalization during the pandemic
Offering customized pricing and offers could help retailers offset rising margin pressure, writes Alex Kinnier of GetUpside.
Alex Kinnier • Dec. 4, 2020 -
Lance Cheung. (2018). "20181113-FPAC-LSC-0119" [photograph]. Retrieved from US Department of Agriculture.
Grocery chains need to stop buying into food waste. Here's why.
Top retailers have signed onto the "10x20x30" initiative to halve food waste by 2030, but all U.S. grocers need to ramp up their efforts, writes Jennifer Molidor of the Center for Biological Diversity.
Jennifer Molidor • Nov. 9, 2020 -
Retrieved from Amazon on September 17, 2020
Amazon Fresh's hyperlocal advantage
The retailer is quickly building an online/offline machine for Prime members, many of whom live within a mile of the new stores, writes Matt Newberg of HNGRY.
Matt Newberg • Nov. 5, 2020 -
Courtesy of Sam's Club
3 ways grocers can appeal to the 'connected consumer'
Digital-first customers are highly valuable for grocers, but reaching them requires the right communication strategy and a commitment to seamless ordering, writes Rajesh Midha of Bottle Rocket.
Rajesh Midha • Sept. 16, 2020 -
Permission granted by 7-Eleven
A delivery war is brewing in convenience retail
Grocers should pay close attention to DoorDash's new online convenience store as well as other companies catering to impulse purchases through e-commerce, writes retail analyst Frank Beard.
Frank Beard • Aug. 5, 2020 -
How advanced analytics can boost grocery sustainability
As the need to eliminate food waste grows, grocers can look to technology solutions like blockchain and RFID, writes Zebra Technologies' Guy Yehiav.
Guy Yehiav • June 26, 2020 -
Walmart
What do consumers want from online grocery? The answer is simpler than you think
E-commerce does not need to be convenient, fun or filled with robots, writes Chicory's Hillary Reeves. The pandemic has shown it just must be reliable as well as essential.
Hillary Reeves • May 22, 2020 -
Courtesy of Walmart
How grocers should communicate in a crisis
Companies must meet this pandemic with transparent, fact-based messaging that keeps shoppers informed while also acknowledging their fears, writes communications expert Joel Staley.
Joel Staley • April 29, 2020 -
Thirstie
When Amazon hasn't cracked the code on online alcohol, how can grocers?
Between robot delivery services and experiential pop-ups, retailers are finally innovating, but one category has yet to take a leap forward and that's alcohol, writes Zac Brandenberg, CEO of Drinks.
Zac Brandenberg • Feb. 18, 2020 -
How grocers will serve their brands and the customer in 2020
Companies will look to regain control of the shopper experience and fortify their businesses against Amazon, writes Sylvain Perrier of Mercatus.
Sylvain Perrier • Dec. 2, 2019
