Lessons learned: Can US consumer trends offer insight into how to grow sales of fresh produce worldwide?
Inflation hit consumers hard in 2022, with year-over-year prices across total food and beverages growing a sky-high 12.5% by end of year. But, when it comes to produce, consumers have not responded based on price-impact alone. Shoppers are undoubtedly being more price-conscious in their food purchase habits, but convenience and quality remain key factors driving […]
Aldi closing fast on 1,000 stores in UK with five new openings in June
Aldi has said it would spend north of £400 million to open new supermarkets across the UK this year alone. In the coming weeks, it will add five more. The discount retailer, continuing its development drive through all areas of the nation, said it will cut the ribbon at a handful of new stores during […]
Mission Produce ‘quickly advancing’ avocado ripening in the UK
Mission Produce, Inc., a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries, announced the advancement of its ripening process in the UK with AVOS Mini. This is a non-destructive ripeness control tool and innovative smart device that measures avocado ripeness and provides quality management insights. The […]
UK supermarkets enjoy great month, helped by Coronation and holiday
Sparked by the Coronation and bank holiday weekend, British supermarkets saw a 12.3% boost in total till sales during the four weeks leading up to 20 May. That figure bettered sales from the previous reporting month by 2.6%, according to data from NIQ, formerly Nielsen. Own-label sales were the biggest driver, rising more than 14% […]
Consumer spending power increases, but Asda tracker shows cost concerns still high
Although spending power has increased and inflation decreased, new insight from Asda shows that shoppers are still struggling with affordability. The rising cost of food and other items actually means that the amount customers can spend per week fell by £3 from March to August. That data point offsets somewhat upbeat news and is among […]
Staying fresh matters: How to use social media to directly reach consumers
Social media is a powerful marketing tool in today’s produce world. It connects a product or brand directly with consumers and influences buying decisions. Witness the explosive effect of a recipe called uunifetapasta, or ‘oven-baked feta pasta,’ shared by Finnish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen in January 2021 on the social media platform, TikTok. A key […]
Led by M&S Food and a lean to value, Marks and Spencer shows signs of a comeback
Despite falling profits in 2022/23, stock outlook has soared in the past week for Marks and Spencer, which notably has been bolstered by the rejuvenation of M&S Food. Sales from its Food division jumped 8.7%, including a 5% rise in its “core categories” that eclipsed pre-pandemic levels. Its market share, in fact, increased by 3.6% […]
Lidl GB again increases hourly pay for store and warehouse colleagues
For the third time in the past year, Lidl GB has raised the wage rates of hourly colleagues to become the highest paying retailer for that group of workers among UK supermarkets. Nearly 25,000 store and warehouse employees will see pay increases from £11.00 to £11.40, including some who will see boosts as high as […]
