Ready or Not, Here Comes the 2019 Holiday Shopping Season

Changing Consumer Attitudes Could Change the Game for Retail, Reports NPD

Consumers are split in their attitudes about holiday shopping. According to the 2019 Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey from The NPD Group, most consumers in the U.S. are looking forward to this holiday season, and see the holidays as a break from everything happening in the world – half even say going out shopping puts them in the holiday spirit. But almost half of consumers that said they would rather plan an outing with family or friends than exchange gifts – more than last year. More consumers also said they think preparing for the holidays may not be worth all of the work entailed.

“There is more of a divide in consumer sentiment heading into this holiday season than we have seen in years,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor, The NPD Group. “There are fewer consumers planning on doing what they did last year, which means retail needs to be prepared to think differently as well...

Cal-Maine Foods Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Egg Production Assets of Mahard Egg Farm

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Mahard Egg Farm, relating to its commercial shell egg production, processing, distribution and sale of shell eggs business. The assets to be acquired, subject to the completion of this transaction, include commercial shell egg production and processing facilities with current capacity for approximately 3.9 million laying hens and permitted capacity for up to 8.0 million laying hens, a feed mill, pullets and related production facilities located in Chillicothe, Texas, and Nebo, Oklahoma, and a distribution warehouse located in Gordonville, Texas. The Company expects to close the transaction in the next few weeks.

Commenting on the announcement, Dolph Baker, chairman and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., said, “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of these assets from Mahard Egg Farm. Cal-Maine Foods already has...

September Sales Grew 4.5 Percent Over Last Year 

According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales in September were down 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted from August, but up 4.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“The pullback in September compared with August is possibly a reaction to increased fears over U.S.-China tensions,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “While uncertainty around trade policy and other issues has dampened consumer sentiment recently, consumers still have a lot going for them as evidenced by longer-term trends and factors like the tight labor market. September is a tricky month to measure because of seasonal factors like the end of summer and back-to-school spending, and this year’s...

Dunkin' Brands Announces Departure of Tony Weisman, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer

Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, today announced that Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer Dunkin’ U.S., is stepping down from his position effective December 1, 2019. The company will immediately begin a search for his replacement, and Mr. Weisman has agreed to assist in the search. Until the appointment of a new CMO, the marketing department will report to Dave Hoffmann, Dunkin’ Brands CEO and Dunkin’ U.S. President.

“Tony has played a key role in the transformation of our brand, including our widely lauded decision to drop “Donuts” from our logo, our very successful espresso relaunch, and the introduction of innovative products like our plant-based Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, currently available in Manhattan. Additionally, he has assembled...

Post-Summer Back to the Grind Kept U.S. Restaurant Transactions Flat in September

The post-summer back to business and school as usual kept U.S. restaurant transactions flat in September compared to year ago, reports The NPD Group. The month started out with transactions up but flattened as the month went on, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 73 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.

Transactions at quick service restaurant (QSR) chains, which represent the bulk of industry transactions, were flat in September compared to year ago. While the full service segments of casual dining and...

Burger King Partners with Uber Eats for Delivery

All of your favorite flame grilled sandwiches from Burger King restaurants can now be delivered right to your doorstep through Uber Eats. BK guests nationwide can now place a food order, including the iconic Whopper Sandwich, with the tap of a button on the Uber Eats app.

“At Burger King restaurants, delivery is a major priority to ensure our food is available to anyone, anywhere,” said Chris Finazzo, President, North America, Burger King Corporation. “We know our guests value convenience and adding the Burger King brand to Uber Eats is another way we will meet the demands of millions of people on this platform.”

“We’re thrilled to team up with Burger King restaurants to offer their beloved menu items to...

Walmart's InHome Delivery Service Officially Launches in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Vero Beach

Early this summer, Walmart announced InHome Delivery, its latest innovation aimed toward giving time back to families by delivering fresh groceries and everyday essentials directly into their kitchen or garage fridges. Today, for the first time ever, Walmart is thrilled to launch this new service for over 1 million customers in Pittsburgh, Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas) and Vero Beach.

The company is obsessed with simplifying grocery shopping and finding ways to make customers’ lives easier. That’s why InHome goes the extra step so that customers can live their lives without worrying about making it to the store or being home to accept a delivery.

All it takes to use the service is three simple steps...

Cracker Barrel Acquires Maple Street Biscuit Company

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. announced it has acquired Maple Street Biscuit Company in an all-cash transaction for $36 million. Maple Street Biscuit Company was founded by Scott Moore and Gus Evans in Jacksonville, FL in 2012. It currently has 28 company-owned and five franchised fast casual locations across seven states. Maple Street Biscuit Company has targeted AUVs of $1.0+ million and targeted store-level EBITDA of 17%+ of net sales. The Company plans to convert its Holler & Dash Biscuit House units into Maple Street Biscuit Company locations in the coming months. Scott Moore will remain CEO of Maple Street Biscuit Company and will report directly to Sandra B. Cochran, President and CEO of Cracker Barrel.

“The breakfast and lunch-focused fast casual category is an attractive segment, and our experience with Holler & Dash has reinforced this belief. We have long admired Maple Street Biscuit Company with...

Online Grocery Shows Global Growth 

According to ResearchandMarkets, the online grocery market is projected to grow by $354.2 billion, with the potential to grow at over 17.4%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over $524.5 billion by the year 2025, online grocery will bring in gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

The United States is expected to maintain an 18.7% growth momentum. In Europe, Germany is projected to add over $13.6 billion to the region's size and clout in the next...

Retailers Welcome Progress on Trade, say Administration has Listened to Concerns

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French after the Trump administration announced that a scheduled tariff hike from 25 percent to 30 percent on $250 billion worth of goods from China will not take place next week as negotiators finalize a tentative trade deal.

“Retailers are encouraged by the progress made between the United States and China and are pleased that the administration has listened to the concerns of the business community as the trade war takes an increasing toll on the American economy. The decision to delay planned tariff hikes is...

Walmart Names John Furner President & CEO of Walmart U.S.

Today, Walmart announced that John Furner will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart U.S., following a successful five years for the business segment under Greg Foran. Furner will report directly to Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon, and the move will be effective November 1. Foran, who is taking a role as CEO at Air New Zealand Limited, will stay on with Walmart through January 31 to ensure a smooth transition.

“John has done a fantastic job at Sam’s Club, and he will continue the momentum we have in Walmart U.S.,” said McMillon. “John knows our business well, having held many different jobs in the company over more than 25 years, and he is helping transform it for the future. He has the experience and judgment to know what we should continue doing and what we should...

Cargill Collaborates to Bring Cost-Effective Global GHG Reductions to Shipping

Cargill, Maersk Tankers and Mitsui & Co. have established a strategic collaboration to accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gases (GHGs) within shipping. All three parties recognize the urgency required to tackle the global issue of climate change and are continually driving progress in their respective lines of business. Today, they are joining forces to accelerate these efforts and propel the maritime industry towards a more sustainable future.

Together, the companies will work towards lowering maritime GHG emissions by fully exploiting existing fuel-saving technologies and exploring new technical solutions. The aim is to prove that it can make economic sense for both owners and charterers if they work more closely together to make vessels more fuel efficient, thus demonstrating that sustainable shipping can also be...

Mercato Introduces Same-Day Grocery Delivery with Mercato Green

Mercato, the online grocery eCommerce platform for independently owned grocery and specialty food stores, announced today the launch of Mercato Green. The delivery membership program allows consumers in more than 25 states across the U.S. to receive unlimited free, same-day deliveries from their favorite local grocers. Mercato will also plant a tree for every order placed by a Mercato Green member.

There are two Mercato Green membership plans - both come with a 14-day free, unlimited trial. The Neighborhood plan covers deliveries up to three miles from the store, and the City plan covers up to 10 miles. Both plans provide a deep discount for consumers who are looking for the convenience and reliability of same-day delivery from their favorite neighborhood grocers.

Online grocery sales, estimated to reach $29.7 billion by 2021, continue to climb as many people find traditional grocery shopping - parking, waiting in checkout lines, and loading groceries - a hassle. With Mercato, consumers conveniently order...

Corn Futures Tumble, After US Makes Surprise Yield Upgrade

Corn futures tumbled, after the US unexpectedly raised its yield forecast for this year’s crop, but soybean prices gained, with the estimate for output of the oilseed cut by more than investors had expected.

Chicago corn futures for December, which had stood a little lower ahead of the US Department of Agriculture’s Wasde crop briefing, extended those losses sharply afterwards, chalking up a 3.7% loss at one stage.

The contract, one hour after the report, stood at $3.81 ½ a bushel, a drop of 3.2% on the day.

The declines reflected a surprise upgrade in the Wasde to the USDA’s forecast for the domestic corn yield this year, by 0.2 bushels per acre to 168.4 bushels per acre, while lowering expectations for consumption of the grain...

Retail Imports to See Surge Ahead of December Tariffs

Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to hit their highest level of the year again next month just before more tariffs take effect in December, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“This is the last chance to bring merchandise into the country before virtually everything the United States imports from China comes under tariffs,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Retailers are doing all they can to mitigate the impact of tariffs on their customers. The effect on prices will vary by retailer and product during the holiday season, but ultimately...

Subway Restaurants Names New Chief Marketing Officer

The Subway brand is proud to name Carrie Walsh as Chief Marketing Officer, North America, where she will be responsible for driving the brand's North America marketing and advertising strategy, as well as defining global brand standards and marketing strategies throughout Subway's international markets.

A seasoned marketing professional, Walsh joins Subway with more than 15 years of experience building brands across the restaurant, retail and CPG industries. Most recently, Walsh led marketing for Michaels Stores, the largest arts & crafts retailer in North America. Walsh also previously held the Chief Marketing Officer role for YUM! Brands Pizza Hut, where she led teams across marketing disciplines including calendar planning, menu insights and...

Domino's Pizza Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Domino's Pizza, Inc., the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, announced results for the third quarter, comprised of growth in global retail sales and earnings per share. Global retail sales increased 5.8% in the third quarter, or 7.5% without the negative impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. U.S. same store sales grew 2.4% during the quarter versus the prior year quarter, continuing the positive sales momentum in the Company's U.S. business.

The international division also posted positive results, with same store sales growth of 1.7% during the quarter. The third quarter marked the 103rd consecutive quarter of international same store sales growth and the 34th consecutive quarter of...

The Road to New COMTELL: Development Blog #2

Urner Barry is making strides in its COMTELL redesign. COMTELL is receiving a complete overhaul with changes geared towards providing an improved and streamlined user experience.

After a thorough assessment of our staple product, we found that user customization, intuitive navigation and ease of access to market prices and data are top priorities.

We believe these improvements to our homepage, navigation, charting and more will be a hit for both long-time and new users...

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO URNER BARRY EGG SUBSCRIBERS

Urner Barry, the leading provider of protein market news and information for the food industry, is announcing an update regarding the benchmark relationships used to report the shell egg market.

In keeping with Urner Barry’s mission to provide timely, accurate and unbiased market information to our customers, these adjustments aim to update the pricing mechanism and realign the benchmarks with modern day trading relationships. The results are a product of leveraging various data sets, studies, and models in conjunction with extensive, independent research and interviews with industry participants across the supply chain. 

The proposed relationships will be used in conjunction with...

EPA, USDA Announce Agreement on Promoting Biofuels

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue issued the following statements after President Donald J. Trump successfully negotiated an agreement on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

“President Trump’s leadership has led to an agreement that continues to promote domestic ethanol and biodiesel production, supporting our Nation’s farmers and providing greater energy security,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Today’s agreement is the latest in a series of steps we have taken to expand domestic energy production and improve the RFS program that will result in sustained biofuel production to...

The Cheesecake Factory Completes Acquisitions of North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated announced that it has closed the acquisitions of North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts (“FRC”), including Flower Child.

The transactions were completed for $308 million in consideration at closing, including $12 million earmarked for customary post-closing adjustments. An additional $45 million will be due ratably over the next four years, and the FRC transaction also includes an earn-out provision based on the financial performance of the FRC brands outside of North Italia and Flower Child. The Company previously invested...

Mintel: Organic Food and Drink Products Gain Popularity 

According to Mintel Global New Products Database, in the last 10 years, the total number of new food and drink product launches globally with an organic claim has risen from 6% to 10% between August 2009 and July 2019.

Mintel research finds that Europe is leading the way in terms of organic food and drink innovation, with almost a fifth of all food and drink products launched in Europe carrying an organic claim. In the 10 years to July 2019, the number of European food and drink launches with an organic claim has shot up from 9% to 17%, satisfying Europe’s hunger for organics. Current leading innovators include...

Whataburger Reveals New Breakfast Burger

Whataburger’s brand-new Breakfast Burger is officially here. The burger features a 100% beef patty, Whataburger’s one-of-a-kind Creamy Pepper Sauce, two slices of savory bacon, a freshly-cracked egg, three crispy hash browns, and American cheese, all conveniently sandwiched in a 4” bun. The Creamy Pepper Sauce is also available as a dipping sauce.

“Anytime we talk about the Breakfast Burger, people get really, really excited,” said Whataburger Vice President of Marketing and Innovation Rich Scheffler. “This is a hearty creation, and some of our customers said they would drive out of their way to get this. We’re excited to be able to offer...

United Natural Foods, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results

United Natural Foods, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 3, 2019.

Highlights

• Fourth Quarter Net Sales Increased to $6.41 billion, or 2.8% when excluding the contribution from SUPERVALU and the additional week in the quarter compared to last year's fourth quarter
• Fourth Quarter Net income of $18.9 million
• Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Diluted Share (EPS) of $0.36; Adjusted EPS of $0.44
• Net outstanding debt decreased by $166 million since the end of the third quarter and...

Mike Hits the (Ara)mark: Reliable Data Sources, Aramark's Innovation, and ASF

This week Laura interviews Mike Banas, Global Cost Forecasting Manager at Aramark. They discuss Aramark's new offerings at sports stadiums, how he selects reliable data, African swine fever, and Laura's favorite - french fries...

Cal-Maine Foods Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today reported results for the first quarter (thirteen weeks) ended August 31, 2019.

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were $241.2 million, a 29.2 percent decrease, compared to $340.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The Company reported net loss of $45.8 million, or ($0.94) per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to net income of $12.4 million, or $0.26 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 include a non-cash impairment charge of $2.9 million related to decommissioning some older, less efficient production facilities as the Company continues to...

Burger King Announces Agreement to Launch in the Baltics

Burger King today announced a new agreement to open restaurants in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The three Baltic states are among the few remaining countries in Europe where Burger King currently does not have restaurants.

"We are excited to develop beautiful new Burger King restaurants and introduce guests in the Baltics to our iconic brand featuring our great-tasting food with Tallink Grupp" said David Shear, President, Burger King and Popeyes EMEA. "We are confident that guests will enjoy our world-famous flame-grilled flavor, including our iconic WHOPPER® sandwich, and experience our brand their way through personalized digital innovation."

Tallink Grupp, which launched the first floating Burger King restaurant on board a cruise ship in 2016, has now acquired the exclusive development rights for...

Kroger Opens Two-Level Store with First-Ever Food Hall

The Kroger Co. opened a new, 52,000-square-foot urban format store today in downtown Cincinnati, offering the grocer's first-ever food hall, named On The Rhine Eatery. The experience features Cincinnati eateries Django Western Taco, DOPE! Asian Street Fare, Eli's BBQ and Queen City Whip, as well as Kitchen 1883 Café and Bar, Kroger's American food restaurant concept.

"Kroger is thrilled to introduce our first food hall and offer a one-of-its-kind shopping experience in our hometown of Cincinnati, providing a convenient location to experience delicious, quality meals and foods. This innovative destination highlights Kroger's food-first culture," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Kroger's new store offers...

Conagra Brands Reports First Quarter Results

Today Conagra Brands, Inc. reported results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which ended on August 25, 2019. All comparisons are against the prior-year fiscal period, unless otherwise noted. Certain terms used in this release, including "Organic net sales," "EBITDA," "Free cash flow," "Legacy Conagra," "Legacy Pinnacle," and certain "adjusted" results, are defined under the section entitled "Definitions." Effective as of the first quarter, the Company allocated the business components comprising the previous Pinnacle Foods reporting segment to the four Legacy Conagra reporting segments.

Highlights

• First quarter net sales grew 30.3%, and organic net sales decreased 1.7%.
• Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (EPS) was $0.36 in the quarter; adjusted EPS of $0.43 benefitted from double-digit growth in...

Cargill Reports Fiscal 2020 First-Quarter Results

Cargill today reported results for the fiscal 2020 first quarter ended Aug. 31, 2019. Key measures include:

• Adjusted operating earnings were $908 million, up 3% from $883 million last year.
• Net earnings on a U.S. GAAP basis were $915 million, a 10% decrease from last year’s strong comparative of $1.02 billion.
• First-quarter revenues rose 1% to $29 billion.

“Our year started on a good note as we continued to help our customers navigate an unpredictable business environment,” said Dave MacLennan, Cargill’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Right now, we are focused on modernizing all aspects of our operations so we can...

ANALYSIS: Shell-Egg Inventories Jump 3.5% from Last Week; Up 12.9% from Last Year

Shell-egg supplies climbed 3.5% to 1.517 million cases last week, according to the USDA’s latest round of inventory data, released yesterday afternoon. This marks the...

Mintel: Nearly Three in 10 Americans say Technology is Ruining the Hospitality Industry

Technology plays a prominent role in nearly every aspect of US consumers’ lives and the dining out experience is no exception. But it seems that for some Americans, the spread of mobile, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technology is unwanted as new research from Mintel reveals that 28% of US consumers agree that technology is ruining hospitality.

However, it may be the fear of the unknown that’s influencing these perceptions as a large minority of Americans have not only never used certain types of technology when dining out, but they are not interested in trying them. For example, two in five consumers have not used and are not interested in trying a restaurant mobile app (44%) or kiosk (40%) to pay. Nearly half (48%) of diners have not used and are not interested in trying...

The Consumer Confidence Index Declined in September

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased in September, following a slight decline in August. The Index now stands at 125.1 (1985=100), down from 134.2 in August. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – decreased from 176.0 to 169.0. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – declined from 106.4 last month to 95.8 this month.

“Consumer confidence declined in September, following a moderate decrease in August,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers were less positive in their assessment of current conditions and their expectations regarding the short-term outlook also weakened. The escalation in trade and tariff tensions in late August appears to have rattled consumers. However, this pattern of...

Papa John’s International Expands Into Portugal

Papa John's International, Inc. continues to expand its global presence, opening a new restaurant in Portugal. It is located in Lisbon, in the Amoreiras zone.

Papa John’s new restaurant in Portugal is being opened by Drake Food Service International, the master franchisee in the Iberian Peninsula, Chile, Panamá, and Costa Rica.

“We are committed to developing the Papa John’s brand in Latin America and Europe. We look forward to becoming the most...

Dunkin Rolls Out Two Major Mobile App and DD Perks Enhancements

Running on Dunkin' is getting faster for all this fall, as the brand today announced that the quickest and most convenient way to order – On-The-Go Mobile Ordering – is becoming available to all of its customers. Previously available exclusively to DD Perks® Rewards Program members paying with an enrolled Dunkin' gift card, the new Guest Order feature allows any customer to place an On-The-Go Mobile Order through the Dunkin' App and pick it up by either walking in-store or going through the drive-thru.

To place an order, guests simply select 'Guest Order' on the redesigned Dunkin' App home screen, select their menu items and then pay using the debit or credit card of their choice, with other payment options coming later this year. The new On-The-Go Guest Order feature has started...

Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA

All former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture since President Reagan’s Administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need a strong and reliable trade deal with our top two customers for U.S. agriculture products. USMCA will provide certainty in the North American market for the U.S. farm sector and rural economy. We strongly support ratification of USMCA.” Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued this statement:

“President Trump has fulfilled a promise, which many said couldn’t be done, to renegotiate NAFTA and improve the standing of the entire American economy, including...

The Golden Growth Opportunity for U.S. Drugstores 

The self-care movement is playing a key role in reshaping health care in a way that drug store retailers and manufacturers can’t afford to ignore. Recent data from The Conference Board Global Consumer Confidence Survey, in collaboration with Nielsen, shows that 18% of Americans reported health as a top concern, next only to the economy (22%) and immigration (19%). With the threat of rising health care costs, consumers are prioritizing wellness and taking a more active role in managing their own health.

Today’s health-minded consumers are looking beyond medicine to manage their health—and opting for healthier food is a big part of this mindset. Increasingly for drugstores, the way to consumer wallets is through their diet. However, Nielsen’s 2019 Health Care study showed that only 24% of consumers are satisfied with the health food selection in drugstores, compared with 75% who expressed satisfaction of...

Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2020 First Quarter Results

Darden Restaurants, Inc., today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended August 25, 2019.

First Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights, Comparisons Versus Same Fiscal Quarter Last Year

Total sales increased 3.5% to $2.13 billion driven by the addition of 40 net new restaurants and a blended same-restaurant sales increase of 0.9%
Same-restaurant sales by brand...

Shop on Amazon, Pay in Cash

Amazon is making it even easier for customers to pay with cash. Amazon PayCode, already available in 19 countries around the world, launches today in the U.S. and allows customers to choose Amazon PayCode at checkout and then pay for their purchase in cash at one of 15,000 Western Union locations. Items ship once customers pay for their purchase in person at a participating Western Union location. Amazon PayCode will be rolling out to customers over the coming weeks.

Separately, Amazon Cash, which enables customers to load cash into their Amazon Balance for making online Amazon purchases, is now available in over 100,000 cash-loading locations nationwide. Customers in the U.S. who prefer to use cash are now...

Tyson Foods Launches Pact Brand Refrigerated Snack Bites with Functional Benefits

Tyson Foods, Inc. has launched a new line of functional refrigerated protein snacks under its new brand, Pact, created to help people harness the natural benefits of food.

Developed by the company’s team of nutrition and culinary experts, Pact Snack Bites are expected to tap into a growing functional food market projected to reach $100 billion in the U.S. by 2025. Functional foods have potential to offer positive effects on health and wellness and can help people fill gaps in nutrition.

Pact Snack Bites are literally packed with nutrition. Made with real fruits and nuts, they have 10-plus wholesome ingredients per serving and contain ingredients like kombucha, matcha and...

Cracker Barrel Reports Strong Fourth Quarter And Full Year Fiscal 2019 Results

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 ended August 2, 2019.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• Comparable store restaurant sales growth of 3.8% and traffic growth of 0.2% outperformed the casual dining industry.
• Earnings per diluted share were $2.70 compared to prior year fourth quarter GAAP earnings per diluted share of $2.55, or $2.19 per share when adjusting for the impact of the prior year 53rd week.
• As previously announced, the Company entered into a strategic relationship with Punch Bowl Social ("PBS") on July 18, 2019 by acquiring a...

Fresh and Focused: The U.S. Retailer Path to Winning Brick and Mortar

Despite the explosion in online shopping in the U.S., physical stores haven’t gone by the wayside. Why? In a word: fresh.

Although e-commerce represents just 4% of grocery sales today, it accounts for nearly one-third of total growth. And Americans are increasingly heading online to shop for nonperishables, household items and pet products, making the concept of stock up grocery trips a thing of the past for many shoppers.

Yet the fresh departments (bakery, deli, meat, produce and seafood) still lure people into physical stores; in fact, online grocery shoppers spend 1.5% more in-store on fresh food than the average consumer does. As more category sales continue to...

August Retail Sales Grew 4.1 Percent Over Last Year but New Tariffs Present 'Downside Risk'

Retail sales were up 0.4 percent in August seasonally adjusted from July and up 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

“While consumer attitudes about the economy indicate some retreating optimism, the bottom line is that consumer spending remained resilient in August and continued to be a key contributor to U.S. economic growth,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Trends remain strong, but August grew somewhat slower than July, which could reflect consumers’ concerns about the unpredictability of trade policy. It is too early to assess the impact of the new tariffs that took effect at the beginning of this month, but...

US Foods Delivers a World of Authentic, Global Flavors with Fall Scoop 2019

US Foods Holding Corp. announced today the launch of Fall Scoop 2019, which focuses on “Global Discovery Made Easy” and showcases products with Latin American, Asian and Middle Eastern influences. With 54 percent of consumers saying they have gone out of their way to try a novel global food, today’s diners are hungry to explore new flavors from all over the world.1

To help restaurant operators stay competitive and meet this growing demand, US Foods collaborated with nationally recognized chefs, Chef Diana Dávila, Chef Thai Dang and Chef Sameh Wadi to advise on many of the...

Starbucks Announces Three New Appointments to Board of Directors

Starbucks Corporation announced today the appointment of Richard (Ritch) E. Allison, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Domino’s; Andrew (Andy) Campion, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NIKE; and Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple’s Vice President and Managing Director of Greater China, to the Starbucks Board of Directors. These appointments increase Starbucks Board of Directors to 13.

“As we pursue our goal of building an enduring company, I couldn’t be more excited to have Ritch, Andy and Isabel join our world-class board of directors,” said Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. “Their expertise across global technology, retail and customer experience at scale will accelerate our drive to innovate in a way that’s relevant to our customers and inspiring to our partners.”

All three joined the Starbucks Board of Directors effective Sept. 11, 2019. Other members of the Starbucks Board of Directors include...

Kroger and Ocado Name Dallas Location of Fifth High-Tech Customer Fulfillment Center

The Kroger Co., America's largest grocery retailer, and Ocado, one of the world's largest dedicated online grocery retailers, today announced Dallas, Texas, as the fifth location for a Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC).

"Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading Customer Fulfillment Centers in Dallas, Texas — one of the largest cities in America — in relationship with Ocado to bring fresh food to our customers faster than ever before," said Robert Clark, Kroger's senior vice president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing. "Through our strategic partnership, we are engineering a model for the region, leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience for...

NPD Group: Consumers Consider the Environment when Making Food and Beverage Decisions

Sustainability, which by definition is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, is a much talked about topic today and is used in a broader sense to mean environmental consciousness or earth-friendly. In the food and beverage and foodservice sectors, many grocers, food manufacturers, and restaurant operators are initiating sustainability efforts as socially responsible corporate citizens and to support consumer interests. Nine percent of adults consider the environment as a top factor when making food and beverage purchase decisions, and it’s young adults, ages 18-44 years old, who are most likely to feel this way, finds The NPD Group.

When making food and beverage purchase decisions based on the environment, packaging is most visible to consumers. One in ten U.S. adults, or roughly 20 million consumers, said that they have switched to a different food or beverage brand because...

Packaged Facts: Alternative Proteins Budding with Organic and Clean Label Food Shoppers

Though the majority of Americans eat meat, trends throughout 2019—from the launch of Burger King's Impossible Whopper to skyrocketing shares of Beyond Meat's blockbuster IPO—hint at the multi-billion dollar potential impact of plant-based products on the nation's food and beverage market.

According to The Organic and Clean Label Food Shopper, 2nd Edition, a brand new report by market research firm Packaged Facts, consumers are increasingly more adventurous with what they eat and more consider themselves flexitarian than in the past. Packaged Facts reveals that only 6% of Baby Boomers claim to eat flexitarian diets, while 13% of Generation Z considers themselves flexitarian, showing the trend is...

Kroger Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results

The Kroger Co. today reported its second quarter 2019 results and provided a Restock Kroger progress update on the company's three-year transformation plan.

Comments from Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen

"The Restock Kroger framework is designed to reposition our core business by 2020 while continuing to deliver for shareholders.

We are pleased with the improvement of trends in our supermarket business in the second quarter. Guided by our customer obsession, Kroger delivered our best identical sales, without fuel, result since the launch of our transformation plan. FIFO gross margin, without fuel and pharmacy, was stable in our supermarket business. Gross margin headwinds in pharmacy were offset by strong fuel performance during...

Walmart to Roll Out Delivery Unlimited to Stores Across the Country

Walmart has plans to expand the reach of Delivery Unlimited – a Grocery Delivery membership option for customers – to 1,400 stores later this fall. The program gives customers the option to pay a yearly $98 fee or a monthly $12.95 fee to receive unlimited Walmart Grocery Delivery orders. Customers will continue to have the option to pay a per-delivery fee, without a membership.

“Grocery Delivery takes convenience to a new level, and our customers love it. With Delivery Unlimited, we’re providing incredible value for our customers and leveraging our unique assets to save them both time and money,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer, Walmart.

The retailer began piloting Delivery Unlimited in four markets – Houston, Miami, Salt Lake City and Tampa – earlier this year. Based on the positive response of customers, Walmart is expanding the program to all 200 metro areas where...

NPD Group: U.S. Restaurant Cash Registers Rang More in August

Amidst a chicken sandwich war, taking advantage of the last remaining days of summer vacation, and the want of having someone else do the cooking, consumers made more purchases at U.S. restaurants in August than they did the year before, reports The NPD Group. Quick service restaurants (QSRs) were the primary beneficiaries of this consumer demand with same-store dollars up by 4.4 percent.

Restaurant transactions were positive for QSR chains throughout the month of August, according to NPD’s CREST Performance Alerts, which provides a rapid weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 73 quick service, fast casual, midscale chains, and casual dining chains. The full service segment of casual and midscale/family chains continued to be soft compared to...

Taco Bell Rolls Out New Vegetarian Menu Nationwide

For years, Taco Bell's delicious vegetarian menu items have been one of the best kept secrets for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Beginning Thursday, the brand that has proudly offered great tasting vegetarian options for some time, will launch a not-so-new "new" vegetarian menu nationwide for the first time ever. With 13 great tasting menu items available at more than 7,000 participating restaurants, Taco Bell continues to lead the way with a meaningful vegetarian menu and remains committed to making the items more accessible by including them on a permanent menu board.

The "new" menu will feature some exciting items that are all American Vegetarian Association (AVA)-certified, including the Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme and Black Bean Quesarito as well as the classic 7-Layer Burrito and Bean Burrito. In addition to these four items, fans can find another nine bold, flavorful vegetarian items sprinkled throughout the larger menu, all indicated by...

McDonald’s to Acquire Apprente, an Early Stage Leader in Voice Technology

McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) announced today an agreement to acquire Apprente, an early stage leader in voice-based, conversational technology. The agreement marks another bold step in advancing employee and customer facing innovations while further strengthening McDonald’s technology capabilities. The announcement comes after extensive exploration with several parties, including evaluating Apprente’s solutions in McDonald’s test restaurants.

Apprente was founded in 2017 in Mountain View, California, to create voice-based platforms for complex, multilingual, multi-accent and multi-item conversational ordering. In McDonald’s restaurants, this technology is expected to allow for faster, simpler and more accurate order taking at the Drive Thru with future potential to incorporate into mobile ordering and kiosks.

“Building our technology infrastructure and digital capabilities are fundamental to our Velocity Growth Plan and enable us to meet rising expectations from our customers, while...

AgriBriefing Launch Pioneering Industry Wide Survey on Women in Food and Agriculture

AgriBriefing’s Women in Food and Agriculture campaign, which promotes the role of women across the agribusiness supply chain, has today announced the launch of the first industry-wide diversity and inclusion survey, supported by Alltech.

Agribusiness and food production are the world’s largest employers, and across the supply chain there is a huge appetite to address the issue of diversity. Agribusinesses are under increasing pressure from consumers, politicians and their own business partners to ensure they are embracing the technology that will revolutionise the sector and building a workforce that has the skills and innovative mindset to utilise it.

Study after study has shown that inclusive workplaces with real diversity across their workforce directly correlate with...

PODCAST: All Yolks Aside - Specialty Eggs Price Acceleration, Proposition 12, Anticipating Demand

This week Laura interviews our very own Brian Moscogiuri, Egg Market Reporter, and John Watson, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Braswell Family Farms. They discuss specialty egg price acceleration, Proposition 12, Duck Eggs, Baking, and much more! 

Wendy's Announces Plans to Launch Breakfast Across the U.S. System in 2020

The Wendy's Company announced today that it plans to launch its breakfast menu, currently available in more than 300 restaurants, across the U.S. system in 2020. The menu features signature items that takes the best of Wendy's, from Applewood smoked bacon to the Frosty®, and creatively delivers them to fans for breakfast. Signature items include the Breakfast Baconator®, Frosty-ccino, and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.

"Launching breakfast in our U.S. restaurants nationwide provides incredible growth opportunities," said Todd Penegor, President and CEO of The Wendy's Company. "We are well-positioned to pursue it. We believe we have the right team and structure in place, and...

Yum China Announces Transition of Chief Financial Officer

Yum China Holdings, Inc. today announced that Jacky Lo, who has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer since June 2017, intends to leave the Company to pursue professional opportunities in Hong Kong to be closer to his family. Jacky will step down as the Company's Chief Financial Officer effective October 16, 2019. Ka Wai Andy Yeung will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective the same day.

"We are grateful for all of the contributions Jacky has made to the Company and recognize the critical role he played in growing and strengthening our business since the spin-off, as well as for his ongoing engagement on succession discussions to ensure a smooth CFO transition." said Joey Wat, Yum China's CEO.

"We are pleased to welcome Andy to our team. Andy brings a wealth of knowledge to this critical role, and his deep experience in all facets of finance will be a tremendous asset to our Company. We look forward to...

Survey: Quality and Transparent Sourcing Drive Millennial Food Choices

Quality drives millennial food shopping, and they are willing to pay more for it, according to a new Whole Foods Market survey. Eighty percent of millennials value quality when it comes to food shopping, and nearly 70 percent are willing to spend more money on high quality foods.

These findings are part of a new survey released today that examines millennial food, health and grocery shopping preferences, which was conducted independently by YouGov on behalf of the retailer. The national online survey sampled 1,006 adults between the ages of 22 and 37 in the U.S.

Another trend that emerged is more informed purchasing decisions. A majority of millennials want to know where their food comes from and...

UrnerBarry's Fall 2019 Reporter Issue Released; Read It Online For Free Now

A brand-new issue of UrnerBarry's Reporter is out now!

McDonald's Adds Grubhub as Delivery Partner in NYC and Tri-State Area

Today, McDonald's USA and Grubhub announced a new partnership to begin expanding McDelivery to approximately 500 restaurants in the NYC and Tri-State Area. McDelivery will be available on the Grubhub marketplace and the company's New York brand, Seamless.

"At McDonald's, we're constantly innovating to find new ways to best serve our customers whenever and wherever they want, whether it's dining in our newly modernized restaurants, on-the-go through mobile order and pay or our drive-thru, or McDelivery. The convenience of McDelivery has been available to our customers in the NYC and Tri-State area for the past two years," said Marcos Quesada, Vice President of McDonald's Stamford Field Office. "We are excited to add Seamless and Grubhub, leading delivery platforms in NYC, to our McDelivery service and to create more options for...

Kroger's Simple Truth Brand Launches Plant Based Collection

The Kroger Co. announced today a new collection: Simple Truth Plant Based. The collection will include fresh meatless burger patties and grinds as well as plant-based cookie dough, pasta sauces, sausages, deli slices, dips and other items.

The Simple Truth collection was announced on stage by Gil Phipps, Kroger's vice president of Our Brands, at the Good Food Conference in San Francisco, where he was a featured speaker. The Conference, hosted by the Good Food Institute, focuses on accelerating the marketplace for plant-based food.

"Since its launch in January 2013, Simple Truth has become the leading natural and organic brand in the country, with annual sales exceeding $2.3 billion," said Phipps. "As more of our customers embrace a flexitarian lifestyle, choosing to prioritize...

Retailers Respond to Announcement of US-China Trade Talks

The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay after the announcement that China and the U.S. will hold high-level trade talks in October.

“We are encouraged by the confirmation of US-China trade talks. We urge the administration to end this trade war and come to an agreement that results in a complete roll back of the existing tariffs. This trade war has gone on far too long, and the harmful consequences for American businesses and consumers continue to grow. We are optimistic both sides will come together and make significant progress toward a trade deal that resets US-China trade relations and...

Technomic: Small Plates, Starters, and Sides Positioned to Gain Popularity

With consumers’ desire for innovation increasing and snacking becoming more of a habit, mealparts such as starters, small plates and sides are well-positioned to gain share of stomach. Technomic’s 2019 Starters, Small Plates & Sides Consumer Trend Report explores how these mealparts can help foodservice brands maximize existing opportunities and overcome potential challenges.

“Starters, small plates and sides are flexible menu offerings that provide the innovation consumers seek at a lower risk than larger menu items,” explains Anne Mills, senior manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “While the lower price points and smaller portions mean these mealparts are great platforms for experimentation, rising menu prices increase the risk. As prices rise, brands must work to maintain, if not boost, value perceptions through bolder innovation and...

How the Coffee Category Became a Hot Bed of Innovation for the U.S. Grocery Market 

Beyond the buzz created around the early release of Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, there is something big brewing in the U.S. coffee market. American’s consumption habits are shifting across the beverage industry, and consumers are increasingly seeking their next caffeine fix from chilled, on-the-go coffee options over energy drinks and carbonated soft drinks.

Nielsen data shows that the ready-to-drink coffee category is hot. In fact, dollar sales within the latest 52 weeks (ending July 27, 2019) netted $3 billion, up 16% versus a year ago. And a steady stream of innovation is fueling...

Bojangles’ Names Experienced Restaurant Finance Leader as Chief Financial Officer

Bojangles’, Inc. announced today that accomplished finance executive and restaurant industry veteran Reese Stewart has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Reese will help lead the company’s efforts to drive value through strategic focus, team development, and operational and financial excellence.

Reese comes to Bojangles’ after a nearly 15-year career with CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands. Most recently, Reese was Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer for CKE. He also previously served as the company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer. While with CKE, Reese developed and led financial teams that supported the domestic and international growth platform of both brands, was instrumental in a variety of strategic and capital transactions, and...

Shaquille O’Neal Surprises Fans in New Papa John’s “Better Day” Campaign

Papa John’s International, Inc. announces the launch of its new “Better Day” campaign featuring Board of Directors member and franchisee Shaquille O’Neal. The campaign includes three television ads, which will begin airing nationally on Thursday, September 5th, featuring O’Neal making pizzas with Papa John’s team members and engaging Los Angeles residents across the city during deliveries at different locations.

“I had a blast making these commercials and you’ll see that come through on screen,” said O’Neal. “As a Papa John’s board member and franchisee, I’m invested in the business based on my belief that pizza is fun and it brings us all together. The 120,000 team members all over the world make the company what it is, so it was important to help...

Packaged Facts: 4 Ways Grocers can Improve Outreach to Affluent Food Shoppers

The food culture and buying habits of affluent food shoppers (the 42 million food shoppers in the U.S. with household incomes of $150,000 or more) cause them to have a disproportionate impact on the bottom line of brick-and-mortar supermarkets and grocery stores. Affluent food shoppers are more prone than other food shoppers to shy away from conventional shelf-stable packaged foods and are more likely to spend their money and time on buying and experiencing higher margin store perimeter products and services.

In the market research report Affluent Food Shoppers, Packaged Fact identifies four key ways that U.S. grocers can better attract and meet the needs of this important consumer segment...

AmazonFresh Expands to Indianapolis With 1- and 2-Hour Delivery

Amazon today announced that AmazonFresh has expanded to Indianapolis. Beginning today, Prime members in Indianapolis can shop tens of thousands products from meat and seafood to fresh produce and everyday essentials for free two-hour delivery from AmazonFresh.

“We’re thrilled to introduce AmazonFresh to Prime members in Indianapolis,” said Stephenie Landry, Vice President of AmazonFresh and Prime Now. “Prime members tell us they want their stuff even faster. We're happy to deliver on that ask and can’t wait for customers in Indianapolis to take advantage of one- and two-hour delivery from AmazonFresh.”

Prime members can choose from tens of thousands of items across produce, meat, grocery, plus Amazon.com bestsellers from...