Report: Frozen foods heat up as pandemic drives sales growth

Category sales hit $65.1 billion in the U.S. last year, according to figures from the American Frozen Food Institute and the Food Industry Association.

By Rosie Bradbury • Feb. 22, 2021

Big Food lost $12B in sales to small CPGs and private label in 2020, IRI says

The pandemic accelerated a five-year trend of large manufacturers losing market share to smaller players, but consumers' return to normal travel patterns should slow the momentum.

By Mike De Socio • Feb. 4, 2021

Shoppers shifting toward value and smaller sizes in 2021, IRI says

In its report, the market research firm also predicts the trend toward premiumization will ease while health, nutrition and sustainability will remain important to consumers.

By Jessi Devenyns • Jan. 29, 2021

Online packaged food and beverage sales could top $100B in 2021

Grocery is now the top e-commerce CPG category, according to FMI and NielsenIQ, with dollar sales up 125% last year.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 26, 2021

Low-sugar label leads a new wave of better-for-you wines

California startup FitVine is one of the fastest-growing alcohol brands in the U.S., according to Nielsen.

By Christopher Doering • Jan. 5, 2021

Dietary Guidelines published without changes to added sugars or alcohol recommendations

The document from USDA and HHS is being criticized for not incorporating more recommendations from scientists, dietitians and medical professionals.

By Megan Poinski • Jan. 4, 2021

Consumer eating and drinking habits during pandemic reflect different needs

A survey from the International Food Information Council found people balanced eating healthier with indulgence, while some consumed more alcohol even as others were less likely to imbibe.

By Samantha Oller • Dec. 16, 2020

Untapped: How grocers are growing their private label alcohol assortment

Wine has long been the focus, but experts say booming sales this year make store brand booze ripe for expanded selections and higher price points.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 14, 2020

'It's our Super Bowl': How food manufacturers are preparing for an unorthodox holiday season

The pandemic has upended how consumers plan to celebrate, prompting CPG companies to reduce product sizes, tout offerings for novice cooks and shift more resources online. 

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 23, 2020

How grocery categories have fared during the pandemic

Fresh seafood and the frozen department saw some of the biggest dollar sales growth from March to October, while deli and floral struggled, according to data from IRI and 210 Analytics.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 18, 2020

Schnucks rebrands downtown St. Louis store

The grocer's Culinaria format, which opened in 2009, will become Schnucks Downtown and feature new self-checkout stations and a refreshed assortment.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 16, 2020

Aldi promises a Thanksgiving meal for under $30

The discount grocer is also giving all of its employees two $30 gift cards. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 12, 2020

Bottoms up: How grocers can keep alcohol sales pouring in

As the coronavirus pandemic boosts category sales, retailers are setting the table for long-term shopper engagement with larger departments and expanded online availability.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 11, 2020

Inside the store: Wegmans' new location in Tysons, Virginia

The 80,000-square-foot supermarket on the campus of banking giant Capital One features a smaller, urban concept with prepared foods as the focal point.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 4, 2020

Halloween candy sales are up, but pandemic is changing celebrations

As manufacturers have altered their approach, 90% of young parents say they cannot imagine Halloween without sweet treats, according to the National Confectioners Association.

By Jessi Devenyns • Oct. 27, 2020

Amazon Fresh opens second store in California

Like the first store in Woodland Hills, the new supermarket in Irvine offers low prices, along with Amazon's Dash Carts and Alexa features to assist shoppers.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 22, 2020

Why Trader Joe's traffic has recovered but Whole Foods' hasn't

Specialty chains were hit hardest by the drop-off in Q2 foot traffic, but some, like Trader Joe's, have been better at adapting to a new "mission-driven" shopper mindset, according to a report from Placer.ai.

By Rosie Bradbury • Oct. 22, 2020

Amazon Fresh looks to hire 1,500 in Chicagoland

The retailer will cross-train workers across four area stores as its brick-and-mortar grocery expansion plan comes further into focus.

By Jessica Dumont • Oct. 21, 2020

Grocery sales barely budge in September as pandemic-driven surge continues to ebb

Sales have been in a holding pattern in recent months as spending at food retailers becomes more predictable.

By Sam Silverstein • Oct. 16, 2020

Kroger adds more than 50 new items to plant-based brand

The grocer has launched a new line of plant-based "Chick'n" patties and plans to sell more than 75 plant-based foods under its Simple Truth brand by the end of 2020. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 14, 2020

NJ lawmakers approve single-use plastic and paper bag ban

After some states and stores ditched plastic bag bans over COVID-19 fears, the bill heading to the Garden State governor signals a return to curbing plastic use.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Sept. 30, 2020

Inside the store: Amazon Fresh

The just-opened supermarket will feel familiar to shoppers, but the relentless focus on low prices and removing shopping friction is where the company looks to stand out.

By Krishna Thakker • Sept. 21, 2020

What's on shoppers' lists? Bacon, cleaning products and frozen foods

Six months into the pandemic, center store items are still among the fastest-growing categories at grocery stores, according to recent sales data.

By Jeff Wells • Sept. 17, 2020

Grocery sales dip in August as overall retail spending picks up

Sales at food retailers fell 1.6% compared with their level in July as overall retail sales climbed 0.6%.

By Sam Silverstein • Sept. 16, 2020

Food prices outpace inflation but show signs of easing

Food-at-home prices rose 4.6% between August 2019 and last month, while the overall Consumer Price Index rose 1.3%.

By Sam Silverstein • Sept. 14, 2020