Top Consumer Food Concerns of 2012
The Midwest drought, the “pink slime” controversy, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were the most influential food stories for consumers in 2012, according to a survey by Hunter Public Relations.…
Craft Beer Sales Have Doubled, Will Triple
While the economic downturn has affected consumer spending across many sectors, craft and craft-style beers are defying recessionary trends with an impressive upward trajectory. The latest research by Mintel on…
Union Memberships Drop to 11.3% of Workforce
The power of unions has sharply declined, with its share of the workforce falling to its lowest point in 97 years, the New York Times reports. Union membership only accounts…
Competitive Cigarette Environment Improves
Respondents to a recently conducted survey of tobacco retailer and wholesaler contacts representing more than 45,000 U.S. convenience stores revealed that the competitive environment improved during fourth-quarter 2012, with fewer…
What to Expect From Dollar Stores
According to executives from Deloitte Consulting, the dollar channel will continue to post strong growth, competing with traditional retail for both consumers and suppliers, Supermarket News reports. The results are…
Convenience Store Count Tops 149,000
The U.S. convenience store count increased to a record 149,220 stores as of December 31, 2012, a 0.7% increase (1,094 stores) from the year prior, according to the 2013 NACS/Nielsen…
Target Gets Fresh With Detroit
Target announced earlier last week that it is expanding its fresh grocery concept to the Detroit area. The news comes as Target is remodeling its stores across the country, allocating…
NACS Releases Consumer Fuels Report
So where are gasoline prices heading this year? The year 2013 started just like it did in 2012—gas prices were at a national average of $3.30 per gallon, setting a…
2013 WMU Food Marketing Conference
Each spring, Western Michigan University’s Food/CPG Marketing Program’s two-day conference brings more than 500 industry executives together to discuss key industry issues and emerging developments. Save the date to attend…
Studies Disagree on Potential Harm of E-Cigarettes
Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes pose little threat to cardiac function, reported Reuters, citing a statement from the European Society of Cardiology. The findings from the world’s first clinical trial on…