Dept. OTC

  1. Shopper & Customer
  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 […]
  1. Department: HBC
Over-the-counter (OTC) tests, also known as self-tests or home tests, transform health monitoring by allowing individuals to obtain quick and convenient results without healthcare professionals’ involvement. These tests, including ovulation, pregnancy, fertility, cholesterol, blood glucose, drug, and strep tests, offer significant advantages such as convenience, timely results, privacy, early detection, and cost-effectiveness.
  1. Technology & Innovation
Activewear brand Alo Yoga has given its Roblox experience a glow-up and introduced a new phygital integration that will let users unlock virtual rewards in the brand’s real-world stores. Developed in partnership with Sawhorse Productions, the Alo Yoga Sanctuary on Roblox made its debut in 2021. Described as an “immersive wellness space,” the updated Roblox […]
  1. Partnerships & Alt Profit
  From a historical grocerant perspective, branded partnerships have long been a cornerstone for driving consumer interest and boosting sales in the foodservice industry. By combining iconic flavors, recognizable brands, and promotional synergies, successful partnerships have created memorable dining experiences that resonate with customers and spur repeat visits according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
If you predicted that tech stacks would shrink in 2024, it was probably a good bet. After all, the trend line had been headed in that direction. The average number of apps in companies’ stacks shrank in both 2022 and 2023, albeit by only a modest amount, less than 10% on average. But economic times […]
  1. Department: Nonfood
New figures released today (13 January) reveal that for the first time on record, cash withdrawals at post offices exceeded £1bn in a single month. Post Office branches saw £979m worth of personal cash withdrawals over the counter in December and £35m worth of business… This story continues at Cash withdrawals exceed £1bn at post […]
  1. Department & Category
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) event serves as a bellwether for consumer packaged goods (CPG) innovation. This year, PepsiCo didn’t just show up—they set the tone, blending flavor innovation, with bold ambitions and an unwavering commitment to people, planet, and their partners. Through my years of helping retail and CPG companies reimagine what’s […]
  1. Department: Beverage
  If your taste buds are yearning for a flavorful adventure, it’s time to visit Jollibee—the global restaurant phenomenon recently crowned “the best fast-food fried chicken” in America by USA TODAY. With an irresistible lineup of food and beverages, according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Jollibee continues to delight […]
  1. Department: Food
  As seasonal flavors captivate consumers, regional specialties offer unique opportunities for the foodservice industry to shine. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® wants to remind everyone that there is an abundance of fresh, fast, flavorful, meals available in your area.  Convenience stores, grocery delis, and restaurants are increasingly leveraging these […]
  1. Retail Ecosystem
U.S.-based online resale platform ThredUp has divested its European business, Remix, in a management buyout led by Florin Filote, the General Manager of Remix. When ThredUp acquired Remix in July 2021, it believed the move would be a growth driver for its business, but under continued financial pressure the company announced in August 2024 that […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Burlington Stores plans to open 101 net-new stores during its current fiscal year, which ends Feb. 1, 2025. The value-priced retailer, which currently operates 1,103 stores in 46 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, had a strong Q3: total sales grew 11% compared to the same period the previous year, although comparable store sales only […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
The medical supplies industry is critical to the healthcare system, ensuring that essential tools and products reach both healthcare providers and patients. Retail and wholesale medical supplies are two distinct sectors within this industry, each with unique demand dynamics. Understanding these differences can help stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and buyers, make informed decisions and optimise […]
  1. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  As the demand for food delivery skyrockets, so do consumer expectations for accuracy, temperature consistency, and timeliness according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. However, according to industry surveys, 65% of delivery drivers experience delays of over 15 minutes at restaurants, leading to late deliveries, cold food, and missing […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
The outcome of the 2024 US Presidential election could have far-reaching implications for businesses across various sectors, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands are no exception. With changes in policy, economic priorities, and regulatory environments, CPG brands must navigate a shifting landscape that could impact everything from consumer spending patterns to supply chain stability. As […]
  1. Department: Food
Industrial cooling systems are typically associated with warehouses and large scale food storage facilities, but their applications are far more diverse and essential than many realise. From preserving delicate artwork in galleries to ensuring the quality of beverages in breweries, industrial cooling plays a pivotal role across various sectors. In retail, these systems have become […]
  1. Department: Food
In today’s dynamic food retail landscape, grocery store service delis, once known for their quality, convenience, and fresh food options, are struggling to meet the demands of a modern consumer base hungry for more than just another cold cut or outdated salad option. Consumers desire for grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food consumers […]
  1. Data & Insights
In this series, Talk data to me, we chat with leaders from the world’s biggest brands and agencies about how they’re using insights to drive their business strategies. We caught up with Dominique Batiste, Senior Group Manager of Market Research at Eventbrite, to get her thoughts on privacy, experiences, and personalization. Tell us a bit […]
  1. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
Walmart has begun integrating prescription medications into its delivery offerings in six states, with plans to expand to 49 states by the end of January 2025. Customers in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin can now add their prescriptions to orders placed online or via the Walmart app. When the program is […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
Imagine being able to diagnose and treat illnesses quickly, accurately, and conveniently, without having to visit a hospital or laboratory. This is the promise of Point-of-Care Diagnostics (POCD), a rapidly growing field that’s transforming the way healthcare is delivered. In this blog, we’ll explore the technologies driving POCD and its vast global market potential.
  1. Department & Category
  The age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” has evolved dramatically over the decades, shaped by societal changes and consumer demands. In a world where speed of service, affordability, portability, and dietary preferences take center stage, families today are more interested in finding meal solutions that satisfy everyone at the table without sacrificing quality or convenience, […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
  Aldi’s Fan Favorites list has become a vital barometer for both the grocery industry and consumer trends. Why? Because the selections reflect emerging shopper preferences, and Aldi’s ability to act quickly on consumer feedback is a blueprint for others. Aldi fans voted to bring back Huntington Home Swedish Dish Cloths, but more importantly, this […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
ThredUp is ending the points-based component of its loyalty program, as the resale platform continues to look for ways to bolster its bottom line. Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, shoppers will no longer earn points on their ThredUp purchases, and any points already accumulated will expire on Jan. 15, 2025. To ease the blow, the platform […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
  Success does leave clues, from the perspective of Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma WA based Foodservice Solutions®, Starbucks has long demonstrated an impressive ability to align its marketing strategies with its customers’ desires, seamlessly blending coffee, culture, and convenience. Their latest partnership with the music duo SOFI TUKKER for National Coffee Day is […]
  1. Merchandising
  Over the past decade, the food industry has experienced a seismic shift toward convenience, and the rapid rise of takeout and grab n’ go options has been nothing short of remarkable. The team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has been analyzing the increasing demand for quick, quality meals has been driven by busier […]
  1. Channel: Restaurants
Einstein Bros. Bagels is introducing a new seasonal offering, the “Fall Flavor Fling” Combo, starting today. The limited-time promotion features the Maplehouse Breakfast Sandwich, accompanied by a Twice-Baked Hash Brown and a Classic Cold Brew Coffee, all for $9.99.
  1. Agencies & Vendors
Whether you are a startup brand looking to get your products into retail or foodservice for the first time, or a more established brand looking to expand your distribution, at some point, you will come across RangeMe and ask yourself, “Is a RangeMe subscription worth it?” The purpose of this post is to give you […]
  1. Data & Insights
At the end of 2023, we publicly launched Voronoi, our free new data discovery app! The initial response from both users and creators has been incredible. We now have millions of in-app views, and there are already more than 1,500 interesting visualizations to discover, many of which will never be published on Visual Capitalist. For […]

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  1. Data & Insights
  2. Partnerships & Alt Profit
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Data & Insights
  5. Shopper & Customer
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 […]
  1. Holiday & Events
  2. Holiday & Events
A good number of consumers, over 77%, believe there are better deals available after the holidays, and nearly 51% plan to take advantage by making a large purchase in late December and January. Those are top findings from a Holiday Green survey, from CouponCabin, regarding consumer habits in the post-holiday time frame. When it comes to post-holiday […]
  1. Trends & External Forces
  2. Data & Insights
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
IAB’s 2025 Outlook: A Snapshot into Ad Spend, Opportunities, and Strategies for Growth offering an early glimpse into ad spending trends for the coming year. The report is a must-read to gain and understanding of brand and agency buyers’ growth strategies and the challenges they foresee. The report covers: 2025 projections for the market overall […]
  1. Data & Insights
  2. Technology & Innovation
There’s been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) and how these technologies are going to revolutionize retail. But the retail revolution can’t be accomplished with sweeping generalizations about putting more technology into stores. Successful retail outcomes are built using technology to solve specific challenges, expanding on wins and […]

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