Progressive Grocer

The word “Snack” is understood differently by different people. Often described as quick light meals, or as foods consumed in-between regular meals, or simple, small, pocket-energy providers that keeps one going from one meal to the other. However, in...

As soon as one walks into the lower ground floor of the spanking new Mantri Square mall in Bangalore, one is hit by the sheer presence of a massive 90,000 square feet SPAR store, the retailer’s largest outlet yet...

I’ve spent an inordinate amount of my career working on coupons and couponing, and while I have plenty to show for it in terms of patents, accomplishments, bonuses and press coverage, I used to feel I spent too much...

Kanti Sweets has come a long way from a small six feet by six feet shop, at Kempe Gowda Circle, Bangalore, established in 1957. Over the years, the retailer has become the preferred mithai-wala (as Indian confectionery makers are...

The year 2010 is shaping up as even more challenging than 2009 for retailers in most industries, according to published forecasts. Many consumers are changing their buying habits. Some are “buying down” with less expensive products, while others are...

The recession has taken some of the sizzle out of refrigerated breakfast meat sales in the U.S., but the category is still cooking. The introduction of healthier products and added convenience – to encourage consumers to add bacon or...

Have you ever wondered why a store merchandises dusters next to cleaning chemicals, a shampoo next to hair dye or chips next to soft drinks? As a shopper, have you ever stopped to think why price is important to...

The advance of mobile technology – assisted, of course, by the ubiquitous iPhone App – has opened up a whole new world of solutions going way beyond mere SMS promotions to shoppers' cell phones. And U.S. grocers are embracing...

In today’s tight economy, businesses are often forced to push human resource issues to the back burner or, unfortunately, face layoffs to cut costs. When supermarkets post a job opening, they’re deluged with applications due to the high unemployment...

As U.S. grocers gear up for an ongoing slugfest rife with lingering deflation, cautious shoppers, precipitous promotional activity and cutthroat competition, several recent culinary trend forecasts offer retail produce- pushers plenty of prime possibilities to blunt the onslaught by...

Packaging is riding high in the fresh food world, as evidenced by a groundswell of innovation and collaboration taking shape between trading partners in record numbers.   During last month’s Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.,...

 “Despite high unemployment, inflation and other challenging trends, opportunities have never been greater for Spartan Stores and our retail partners,” declares Alan Hartline, EVP of merchandising for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based “hybrid distributor” that he says is laser- focused...

It’s fair to say that Food Lion, LLC, the 1,300-store supermarket chain in the southeastern United States, is nothing like it used to be. What was once a chain that appealed to priceconscious consumers and few others has been...

I have been struck recently by the large effect that little things have on me, and how these little things, both good and bad, can have the effect of turning a great customer experience sour, or vice versa. And...