Grocers are increasingly partnering with third-party logistics providers to bring together the physical, technological, and human resources needed to meet today’s supply chain demands. Grocers are increasingly finding that cold chain performance comes down to the relationships they make and build upon. Successful execution today is as often as not dependent on utilizing third-party logistics providers’ (3PLs) expertise and physical resources. Nicole Glenn Nearly 60% of 3PLs expanded their cold chain capabilities in the previous 12 months, according to the “2023 27th Annual Third-Party Logistic ..read more

Comments from senior industry executives in March. “When we launched Restock Kroger several years ago, we knew that a strong omnichannel experience was a key to serving our customers in the future. We are pleased with the progress we’ve made there, and we’ll continue to invest in digital as it remains an important part to our growth model. In addition, we believe a strong and growing store network is important, many of the ways we go-to-market in digital still come through the store channel. We know that our most profitable customers shop both in-store and online.” Rodney McMullen, Chairman ..read more

FASTEST FROZEN Sales of frozen products in supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchants, military commissaries and select club and dollar stores combined totaled $18.65 billion during the 12 weeks ended Feb. 25, down 1.3% compared with the same period a year ago, according to Chicago-based market research firm Circana. Unit sales fell 1.2% to 3.70 billion. For the 52 weeks ended Feb. 25, dollar sales rose 1.1% to $79.93 billion while units tumbled 2.8% to 15.84 billion. Our chart shows the fastest-growing frozen subcategories, including the leading brands, for the 12 weeks ended Feb. 25. Only subc ..read more

Are grocery retailers ready if TikTok is banned? If TikTok is on its way to being banned in the U.S., what will it mean for retailers and brands that have found the popular app an effective way to connect with American consumers —particularly Gen Z and millennials? GEN Z SAYS ‘NO’ TO A BAN Our resident Gen Z-er is not happy with the state of things in the nation’s capital and neither are her high school classmates. “Dad, did you know that they’re trying to ban TikTok? Why would they do that?” She was referring to, of course, last month’s 352-65 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to ban ..read more

Fresh from Expo West, we dish on the hottest trends and newest products. More than 65,000 industry professionals visited Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center last month where 3,300+ exhibitors showcased the latest and greatest new items. Innovation was everywhere! For those who missed the show — or whose feet gave out before they made it to the end — we’ll share our observations on key trends and hot new products. Pull up a chair! THE CHANGING FACE OF PLANT-BASED Plant-based remains a popular trend, but industry observers say they detect a change in how such products ar ..read more

Arlington, Va. – The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and FMI – The Food Industry Association are proud to announce their partnership on Frozen IQ, a convergence of industry leaders among food retail and manufacturing, with the goal of driving innovation, addressing a transformative regulatory environment and optimizing consumer engagement in the vital frozen food sector. According to the 2023 Power of Frozen in Retail, the frozen food category continues to gain momentum in retail, ranking fifth behind dry grocery, meat, produce and dairy for total sales. “Given the current ..read more

Brands are serving up new offerings that appeal to a wide variety of consumer desires. Nasoya Food USA’s Vegan Dumplings now come with savory and sweet dipping sauces. A plethora of new products in the refrigerated and frozen Asian space highlight a growing demand for convenient yet flavorful meal solutions. New varieties of dumplings and single-serve meals, fusion flavors and street foods are among the innovations catering to evolving consumer preferences. DEMAND GROWS FOR PROTEIN-ONLY MEALS Chicago-based Conagra is introducing three new and reformulated “Protein Only” multi-serve meals under ..read more

The category is on the rise as consumers seek healthy — but sweet — snacking options. Campoverde’s individually wrapped fruits on a stick are designed for healthy, on-the-go snacking. Dollar sales of frozen fruit jumped 6.2% during the 12 weeks ended Jan. 28 to $428.14 million, significantly outperforming the frozen department as whole (-1.5%). Unit sales were also up (+5.3%), reports Chicago-based market research firm Circana. Orzse Hodi, senior vp and managing director at Dole Packaged Foods, Westlake Village, Calif., says she’s seeing more demand for products made with wholesome ingredients ..read more

The original meal solution still delivers great value. Even premium options offer a less expensive alternative to pizzeria fare. But some retailers’ assortments could use a few tweaks. Palermo’s new Roman-style Urban Pie Pinzza collection features an authentic pinsa crust that’s “light and airy, yet golden and crispy.” Dollar sales of frozen pizza edged up 0.3% during the 12 weeks ended Jan. 28 to nearly $1.66 billion across channels, outperforming the frozen department as a whole (-1.5%) by a wide margin, reports Chicago-based market research firm Circana. Meanwhile, units were down just 0.4 ..read more

Comments from government officials, companies and senior industry executives in February. This supermarket megamerger comes as American consumers have seen the cost of groceries rise steadily over the past few years. Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons would lead to additional grocery price hikes for everyday goods, further exacerbating the financial strain consumers across the country face today. Essential grocery store workers would also suffer under this deal, facing the threat of their wages dwindling, benefits diminishing, and their working conditions deteriorating.” Henry Liu, Director ..read more