Consulting

Articles on/from consultants and consulting firms in Retail/CPG.

  1. Shopper & Customer

Amazon’s Struggles in the Grocery Sector: Lessons from Pricing Policies and Market Dynamics

  Amazon’s ambitious entry into the grocery sector has been marked by a series of strategic shifts, yet it continues to face significant challenges in solidifying its position according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Recent developments, including the merging of corporate teams at Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, have […]
5 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Food Tariffs Drive Brand Trial: Navigating the New Retail Landscape

  The food retail industry is experiencing a seismic shift as macroeconomic factors, particularly the imposition of tariffs, reshape consumer behavior and compel retailers to adapt swiftly according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Price-sensitive consumers are now more discerning, prompting restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery stores to innovate in […]
4 min read
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  1. Associates & Employees

Don’t Wait for a Law to Compel You: Why Retailers Should Update Workplace Violence Policies Now

Retail industry executives have a profound and unique responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their frontline employees. The recent enactment of New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act, which requires retail employers with more than 500 employees nationwide to provide personnel with panic buttons, marks a significant step toward enhancing worker safety. Although this […]
3 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Checkers & Rally’s Expands Frozen Food Court Options

  The evolution of the grocerant niche continues to reshape the landscape of food retailing, and Checkers & Rally’s latest expansion in the frozen food aisle is a testament to this powerful trend, according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.   The quick-serve brand, in partnership with Lamb Weston, is bringing […]
3 min read
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  1. International

Bira cautiously welcomes retail sales growth with call for support

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has warned that independent high street shops are facing a “perfect storm” of declining in-store sales and rising costs, despite modest overall growth in the retail sector. The latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor figures for February 2025 show UK… This story continues at Bira cautiously welcomes retail sales growth […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Consumers Know What is Right and What They Want: The Role of Legacy DEI Programs in the Food Industry

  Consumers have long demonstrated that they know what is right and what they want when it comes to corporate policies, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. The recent consumer-driven responses to major retailers’ handling of DEI initiatives—such as Costco’s increase in web […]
4 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Digital Product Passports: How Retailers Can Turn Compliance to Consumer-focused Value

With the introduction of the new EU sustainability legislation on Digital Product Passports (DPPs) underway, understanding and prioritising the consumer’s point of view is essential for fashion retailers. What is a Digital Product Passport? In July 2024, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) became law in Europe, mandating the implementation of Digital Product Passports […]
7 min read
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  1. Corporate Finance

Restaurant Franchisor Financial Misconduct: Key Cases and Lessons for Franchisees

  The restaurant franchising industry has been a pillar of the global economy, generating billions in revenue and offering entrepreneurs opportunities to own their businesses. However, the industry has also been plagued by financial misappropriations and deceptive practices by some franchisors. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA Based Foodservice Solutions® believe that misuse of […]
4 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Private Label Booms: Reshaping the US Retail Landscape

Should heritage brands be afraid of private label? The jury is still out as Private Label is certainly having its moment in the spotlight. Fueled by factors like inflation and dwindling brand loyalty, private label is making waves across major consumer product categories. And it’s not just about snagging a bargain, consumers are flocking to […]
5 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Shopping Malls are Making a Comeback — What it Means for Product Manufacturers

Shopping malls were once viewed as relics of the past—casualties of the eCommerce boom and shifting consumer habits. But, against the odds, malls are thriving again. What was once considered outdated is making a strong comeback in communities across the country. For product manufacturers, this revival is not just a phenomenon worth watching; it’s an […]
5 min read
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  1. Media & Marketing

Loyalty Programs

In 2012, I drew a cartoon of a shopper emptying her purse at checkout, saying “wait, I may have a card showing my loyalty to whatever store this is.” The loyalty program arms race has only accelerated since then — partly driven by brands trying to collect more first-party data. The checkout ask for an […]
3 min read
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  1. Holiday & Events

Building Brand Loyalty through Celebrating Regional, Seasonal, and Recurring Festivals and Events

  Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes, in an increasingly competitive market, convenience stores and restaurants need to stand out to foster brand loyalty. One highly effective strategy is to celebrate regional, seasonal, and recurring festivals and events. This not only attracts customers but also enhances community relations and drives […]
4 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

The AI Revolution in Quick Service Restaurants: Saving Cash, Enhancing Efficiency

  The restaurant industry has long been characterized by thin margins and high operational costs, making efficiency a key factor in profitability. Over the years, technology has played a crucial role in transforming quick service restaurants (QSRs), from self-service kiosks to mobile ordering apps according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice […]
4 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Retail Technology Show announces 2025 Innovation Award shortlist including Pricer and Akeneo

Retail Technology Show (RTS) has announced the shortlist for its 2025 Innovation Awards, which champions the progressive technologies powering retail transformation. Every year, the awards highlight the best examples of game-changing solutions from across the RTS exhibition floor. They are judged by a panel made up of the RTS advisory board, as well as industry […]
4 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Walmart’s Latest ‘Adaptive Retail’ Adventure: Immersive Gaming + Commerce

Last summer, Walmart executives coined a term to describe retail’s new era: “Adaptive Retail.” Simply put, Adaptive Retail is any commerce experience that brings consumers what they want, wherever and whenever they want it. This next, more expansive version of “omnichannel” (as Walmart sees it) encompasses everything from hyper-personalized product recommendations, virtual shopping assistants and […]
8 min read
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  1. Department: Food

AI Low Hanging Fruit

With all the hype and promise of AI, including synthetic market research I wrote about last week and new advances like “Agenic AI”, adoption in business is facing barriers and obstacles. Deloitte published their latest State of Generative AI report last month, including this headline takeaway: “We see that most companies are transforming at the […]
4 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

lululemon goes large in London: these are our most read retail technology articles from last week

Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Pricer, Focal Systems, FuturMaster, PlaniSense, M-Cube, Dolce&Gabbana, Max Retail, Shopify, Currys, Ikea, and Etsy. lululemon opens largest flagship store in EMEA to date as Regent Street, London location sees double Performance apparel, footwear, and accessories brand, lululemon, is relocating its […]
5 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Home Furnishings Supply Chains

Government policies significantly impact supply chain dynamics — evolving trade regulations, stricter environmental standards, updated labor laws and increasing technological investments reshape how home furnishings products are designed, manufactured and delivered. These changes influence material sourcing, production methods and distribution channels. Understanding these policies is essential for home furnishings businesses to maintain a competitive edge […]
3 min read
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  1. Technology & Innovation

Showcasing smart solutions: these are our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn right now

We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we power towards the 25,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Co-op, Deliveroo, Barron McCann, Currys, Deloitte, Pricer, Focal Systems, RELEX Solutions, TPP Retail, Hightouch, NearSt, […]
8 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

How AI Overviews are Reshaping the Consumer Journey in 2025

With the rise of generative AI, the top of the marketing funnel is getting more complex. The digital marketing funnel from search to consideration to purchase is fragmenting into exploration across more varied digital channels, making it more challenging to capture a consumer’s attention and lead them where we want them to go. More and […]
7 min read
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  1. CPG: Food

Market Research Pitfalls

Early in my marketing career, at General Mills, we used to hold focus groups in a Minneapolis suburb called Eden Prairie. I once overheard a couple of our agency partners jokingly refer to this focus group ritual as going to see the “Oracles of Eden Prairie.” Whether new products, campaign strategy, or ad creative, the […]
4 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

3 Ways Brands are Harnessing the Value of Marketplaces

Omnichannel is the new reality for brands and retailers of all sizes and product types. Results from Retail TouchPoints’ annual Omnichannel & Fulfillment Survey show that most respondents conduct business through an average of three different channels — and for 35% of them, marketplaces are critical to building brand awareness and driving business growth. In […]
3 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Food prices expected to remain volatile, says supply chain specialist

Food prices are expected to remain volatile through 2025, says Inverto, the procurement and supply chain management subsidiary of Boston Consulting Group. Inverto says that the long-term trend towards more extreme weather events will continue to hit regional crop yields causing sudden price spikes. A… This story continues at Food prices expected to remain volatile, […]
< 1 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Restaurant Labor Costs at the Intersection of Service and Price

  In today’s hyper-competitive restaurant landscape, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction walk hand-in-hand. Yet, labor costs—a significant part of operating expenses—sit at the heart of every restaurant’s service and pricing strategy according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. At the intersection of service quality and price sensitivity, restaurants either win […]
4 min read
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  1. Retailer Media

Retail Media Executive Education May 2025 with Cornell University’s Dan Hooker

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode with Cornell University executive director for the food industry programming and faculty at the Johnson School of Management to discuss the first Executive Education programming on retail media offered May 5-8 at New York City. This program has been carefully designed in partnership with us at the […]
2 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Retail Reinvented: Harnessing the Power of AI and ML in Promotions

In today’s cut-throat retail landscape, promotions, which account for 10 percent to 45 percent of total revenue, are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can potentially boost sales and significantly improve brand visibility. On the other hand, poorly executed promotions can lead to decreased margins, customer frustration, and even brand dilution. Traditional retail […]
3 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Industry Leader Steve Dennis on What Makes Physical Retail Valuable

While at the 2025 National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show in New York City from Jan. 12-14, Total Retail’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Steve Dennis, president and founder of SageBerry Consulting, author and podcast host. In this video interview, Dennis shares the important trends and themes he saw emerge this past […]
< 1 min read
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Editor’s Choice

  1. Channel: Drug
  2. Department: HBC
  3. Acquisitions, Divestitures & Mergers
  4. Corporate Strategy
  5. Corporate Finance
  6. Media & Marketing
  7. Retailer Media
  8. Retail Ecosystem
  9. Shopper & Customer
  10. Trends & External Forces
  11. Retail Operations
  12. Associates & Employees
  13. Stores & Formats

Walgreens Agrees to $10B Sycamore Partners Acquisition

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has finalized a deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners to take the company private after being in the stock market for nearly 100 years. Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share in cash for the Walgreens business, according to a company announcement. Shareholders can receive up to $3 more per share […]
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  1. Channel: Grocery
  2. Department & Category
  3. Department: Food
  4. Department: HBC
  5. Acquisitions, Divestitures & Mergers
  6. Corporate Strategy
  7. Corporate Finance
  8. ESG
  9. Partnerships & Alt Profit
  10. Media & Marketing
  11. Agencies & Vendors
  12. Data & Insights
  13. Shopper & Customer
  14. Trends & External Forces
  15. Associates & Employees
  16. Operations & Supply Chain
  17. Owned Brands (Private Label)
  18. Stores & Formats

Kroger Announces Resignation of CEO Rodney McMullen

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rodney McMullen has resigned from the Company following a Board investigation of his personal conduct that, while unrelated to the business, was inconsistent with Kroger's Policy on Business Ethics.
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  1. Data & Insights
  2. Partnerships & Alt Profit
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Data & Insights
  5. Shopper & Customer

Valentine’s Day flower sales could shift to FTD, other brands in 2025

1-800-Flowers still leads in US, FTD is gaining share 1-800-Flowers is the largest flower service by sales headed into Valentine’s Day 2025, according to Earnest credit card data. However, the industry stalwart is likely to lose share this season if recent trends continue. Access chart in Dash. 1-800-Flowers commanded 37.0% of Valentine’s Day flower sales […]
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