Philip Morris USA is testing a new version of its Marlboro Leadership Price (MLP) program in two states—Michigan and South Carolina—according to a Wells Fargo Securities research report. “The terms of the new MLP II program are effectively a price increase for PM USA since it requires retailers to raise their retail price points by…
DetailsSales of natural and organic food in mainstream supermarkets have doubled in recent years, the Indianapolis Star reports. Supermarkets are stocking their shelves with pure food offerings and even launching their own brands, as sales in this grocery segment are outpacing traditional grocery item sales. Nationwide, natural and organic food sales increased 8% in 2010,…
DetailsThe competitive environment is one more reason for convenience store retailers to worry about tobacco sales trends, according to a recent survey of c-store retailers and wholesalers. “Our survey respondents indicated the competitive environment was slightly more intense vs. last quarter,” wrote Bonnie Herzog, senior analyst for Wells Fargo Securities in the Q1 2013 U.S.…
DetailsPrice increase: something few retailers want to hear when it comes to cigarettes, especially with Obama proposing a 94-cents-per-pack increase to the Federal Excise Tax (FET) in his most recent budget. Bonnie Herzog sees modest price increases differently. “Pricing power has been critical and key to this industry,” she said during her Tobacco Trends &…
Details7-Eleven plans to revive development in Michigan next year, reports the Detroit News. The convenience store chain plans to open 20 stores in the Metro Detroit area in 2013, including six in Detroit itself. The company wants to locate several stores in those areas for customers looking for speed and convenience, said Michael Anderer, a…
DetailsHalf of U.S. adults consider gasoline prices to be “too high” when it reaches $3.44 per gallon, indicating a potential break-point on prices, according to a new consumer price index developed by AAA. “It was not long ago that motorists were shocked to pay more than $3 per gallon for gasoline, but now that is…
DetailsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) provided a detailed feature on the convenience store industry’s burgeoning foodservice programs. Citing NACS figures that show foodservice sales comprised 16.9% of $195 billion of in-store sales at convenience stores in 2011, The Gazette said, “Don’t think of them as gas stations. Instead, think of them as the place for…
DetailsTop 10 Craft Beer States Craft beers are a booming business in the United States. Here is USA Today’s list of the top-10 states for craft beers. California: A state known for its wine making is also the top state for craft beers, boasting 268 craft breweries and counting Washington: With 136 craft breweries, the…
DetailsLorillard, Hershey, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Chobani, Starbucks, TalkingRain, Idahoan, and Handi-foil are the top-performing companies in the U.S. consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industry, according to a new study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Information Resources Inc. (IRI). This is the first study to compare both public and private CPG companies using a…
DetailsWhile cigarette consumption in the U.S. is decreasing, part of the drop is being offset by increases in consumption of loose tobacco and cigars, the Los Angeles Times reports. Cost is a major factor in the product shift, with loose tobacco and cigars generally less expensive than cigarettes. According to the Centers for Disease Control…
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