Inflation and economic uncertainty cause Kroger’s growth to fade: Cost-conscious shoppers’ traded down to lower-priced items during fiscal Q1.
Inflation for pet food and services was over 10% in April, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the category has won a reputation of being somewhat recession-proof, thanks to its necessity for pet owners. “People will be spending more on the pets that they have already, despite the fact that it’s been a relatively inflation-wary populous,” said our analyst Jeremy Goldman on a recent episode of our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast.
Bud Light is no longer the US’ top-selling beer brand: While cost-conscious consumers turn to macro beers, AB InBev’s Dylan Mulvaney-related missteps are pushing them to other brands.
Private label products give retailers more control over sourcing, manufacturing, and pricing, which they can use to offer items for lower costs, encouraging consumers to try new products, leading to lifelong brand ambassadors who will swear by your brand. Here’s how Target, Walmart, and Costco are labeling up.
Two-thirds of UK consumers have noticed shrinkflation: Nearly one-fifth of shoppers have avoided buying a product that has been shrunk in favor of an item that’s better value.
Consumer appetite for private label products shows no sign of slowing: Seventy-seven percent of customers who buy private label products plan to buy even more in the future.
Though we’ve downgraded our retail media forecast, we anticipate the channel will experience double-digit growth through 2027. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that retail media is one of the most important and potentially most transformative ad spending channels in media right now,” said our analyst Max Willens.
Retail media is moving from its initial state (search and on-site display ads) up the funnel toward social, open web, and connected TV. As retail media networks move into their next era, they should leverage partnerships to explore new channels, said Evan Hovorka, vice president of product and innovation at Albertsons Media Collective.
Instacart and Gopuff struggle to deliver growth and profits: Inflation is eating into consumers’ spending power and causing them to adjust how they shop for groceries.
Dollar General cut its full-year same-store sales and profit forecasts: The move dovetails with Dollar Tree and other discount retailers seeing lower-income consumers pull back on discretionary spending.
Macy’s and Nordstrom brace for softer sales as discretionary spending weakens: Beauty and off-price were bright spots during an otherwise challenging Q1.
DoorDash hopes five weeks of promotions will be enough to convince customers to pony up for DashPass: The delivery platform is also highlighting the range of available merchants, from Taco Bell to Dick’s Sporting Goods, to drive signups.
Social media and TV are the top channels that consumer packaged goods (CPG) consumers use to find new products, but in-store still plays an important role in product discovery. Meanwhile, Amazon and Walmart are fighting to capture share of CPG product searches, though in-store consumers are more likely to turn to Google for help.
UK shoppers are reluctant to trade down in beauty: We break down how “the lipstick effect” is acting as a buffer for UK beauty retailers in inflationary times.
California consumer advocates push to ban five chemical additives in food products: The move is notable given that federal regulators, rather than states, typically determine the safety of additives.
Consumers stay loyal to grocers—but not brands—as they grapple with inflation: Forty-six percent of US shoppers won’t change where they buy groceries to save money.
We expect US cosmetic and beauty sales to grow 7.6%: While consumers are spending more selectively, they’re still willing to splurge on their favorite items.
European household budgets are under pressure: Food prices are soaring, which is forcing consumers to make tough choices about where to spend their money.
Panera Brands looks to follow Cava Group in filing for an IPO: The restaurant chain appointed José Alberto Dueñas as its new chief executive as it prepares to go public. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)
Amazon is the top dog of US retail, accounting for 37.6% of all US ecommerce sales this year for a total of $431.11 billion dollars, according to our forecast. While the giant has a successful stronghold in many US industries, Amazon isn’t dominant everywhere, especially as it pertains to a physical footprint and getting consumers comfortable with its elite tech. Here are a few areas Amazon hasn’t overtaken—yet.