As the economy sputtered through 2010, confections emerged as the indulgence of choice for price-sensitive customers. The confections segment enjoyed a banner year with total chocolate sales increasing 6.89% to $2.1 billion. Units sold increased 6.3% to 1.78 billion. The average price held steady at $1.18, according to SymphonyIRI Group, for the 52 weeks ended…
Sales Increases in Store for Juices and Teas
Watch out, soft drinks. Teas and juices are looking to capture health-conscious consumers in 2011 with flavor innovation and antioxidant power. The refrigerated juices and drinks category in the c-store sector saw total dollar sales of $423,746,400, according to SymphonyIRI data for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010, up 5.73% compared to the previous…
One-Third of Shoppers Shun C-Store Foodservice
“Improved quality—not just for products, but for service, location and marketing communications—is needed to bring in or bring back consumers for whom c-stores aren’t top-of-mind choices,” says Mintel spokesperson. While on-the-go customers are consistently searching for convenient snack and meal options that won’t slow them down, Mintel reported hungry shoppers often ignore the convenience store…
Restaurant Spending Remains Low
Limited-time offers, small portion size options and kids-eat-free promotions, are key to increasing traffic for foodservice providers. Consumers are still watching their discretionary spending—in fact, 60% of restaurant-goers report that the recession has changed the way their family spends money. Unfortunately for foodservice operators, relief is still a ways off, as latest research from Mintel…
Mintel Predicts Consumer Trends
As the economy slowing recovers, customers are still adapting. With that in mind, Mintel has predicted nine key consumer trends for the year ahead, examining how long term behavior has been implicated. In 2011, consumers are living for the long term with attitudes inspired by a changed value set. “The effects of the global economic…
Promoting Pizza’s Popularity
According to Mintel, an independent provider of market research, sales at the 16 leading pizza restaurants grew only 1.2% into 2008 to $16.6 billion. Among the challenges facing pizza providers is the public’s desire for healthier products as opposed to “high-calorie, high-fat pizza offerings and limited menu variety, which may be more of a turn-off…
Energy Drinks Holding Strong
Energy Crash Ahead? Driven by studies that demonstrate the adverse impacts high levels of caffeine have, a “truth-in-labeling” movement is gaining strength that may strongly impact energy drink retailers from Maine to California and could raise liability issues for the fastest-growing products in the cold vault.Because energy drinks are marketed as dietary supplements rather than…
Meat Snacks / Jerky
TOP PERFORMERS Jack Links Beef Jerky Slim Jim (ConAgra Foods Inc.) Pemmican (ConAgra Foods Inc.) HONORABLE MENTIONS Gardetto’s (General Mills) Keebler (Kellogg Co.) Accounting for $836 million in sales at convenience stores last year, meat snacks seem to be a category tailor-made for convenience consumers. Jerky is a quintessential impulse item that appeals greatly to…
Packaged Healthy Snacks
TOP PERFORMERS Chex Mix (General Mills) Planters Trail Mix/Sunflower Seeds (Kraft Foods Inc.) Kellogg’s Special K Nutra Grain Bar HONORABLE MENTIONS Gardetto’s (General Mills) Keebler (Kellogg Co.) While some retailers are still debating whether they should add healthy snacks to their product mix, others are creating entire programs based on healthier concepts. Entire brands, in…