Global News and Digital Insights
for the Consumer Goods Industry

September 9, 2021

6 brands implemented and benefitted from SMS marketing strategy

58% of consumers want weekly SMS alerts from brands. Six brands have used this technique to achieve their respective aims. 1, Supergoop 2, Rainbow 3, ABH partnered with Attentive and launched “two-tap” sign-up at their mobile websites. This increased Supergoop sales up to 167%, Rainbow’s CTR up to 78%, and ABH subscribers up to 250%. 4, Dolce Volta sent six SMS to customers reminding them to shop during the sale season and generated 58% revenue. 5, Groove life wanted two-way conversational SMS for St. Patrick’s day campaign. They launched sign up units and promoted their St. Patrick scavenger hunt gaining 6000 new subscribers. 6, Pura Vida communicated with their subscribers via SMS and their subscription list grew by 411%.

General Mills satisfied customers by launching low-sugar yogurt sub-brands

General Mills have introduced “Oui French style range” and “ultra-low sugar :ratio” yoghurts. The :ratio keto sub-brand grew heavily by satisfying customers, who consume the keto diet. It maintains the right balance between proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. To control sugar :ratio keto uses “ultra-filtered milk” and an artificial sweetener, sucralose. The French style Oui line offers customers low sugar and high protein yoghurt, made with fine ingredients and served in glass pots. The company is soon launching its “Yoplait power” yoghurt along with some plant-based products.

The revolutionized future of consumer goods and retail

The future of consumer goods and retail has taken a revolutionary turn due to automation, robotics, digitized channels, and contactless strategies. As consumers are more inclined towards online buying, 25 to 35% of employees are opting for remote work, some are opting for hybrid work model, while less per cent of employees want to work from the office. To maintain a balance between hybrid and remote working, companies need to come up with advanced strategies. As per Mckinsey Global Institute research, 17 million people would like to switch jobs by 2030. Therefore, companies need to focus on reskilling.

The Reshaped fate of the $1.5 trillion wellness industry and how companies are keeping up with it

The $1.5 trillion global wellness market is growing 5 to 10% annually. Five consumer trends are reshaping the wellness industry and here’s how companies can benefit. 1, Consumers are inclined towards natural products; companies should reevaluate their developmental plan featuring natural products like Sephora. 2, 88% of consumers prioritize personalization over privacy; companies should establish personalized capabilities. 3, Rise in e-commerce; companies should introduce omnichannel. 4, Influencers influence 40% of purchases of Chinese and Brazilian consumers; companies should partner with agencies to create hype. 5, Services are a part of wellness; companies should offer healthcare services. Read more from Mckinsey

How developed countries’ consumers view four health and wellness trends

Here is how consumers of four developed countries view four health and wellness trends. 1, Personalization or privacy? German consumers prioritize privacy while US and Chinese customers are more inclined towards personalized solutions. 2. Inclination towards clean, natural products; 54% of American, majority of German and Chinese consumers are inclined towards natural products. US consumers prefer a natural “chain of ingredients.” 3, Rise of e-commerce; consumers from all around the globe opt to shop online like the US (60%), Germany (70%), UK (36%). 4, Wellness services; American consumers prioritize health services, while 50% of Chinese workers claim to invest more in wellness services. Read more from Mckinsey

Companies are now trying to teach robots how to communicate

Companies now aim to work and improve the following three areas to digitize their processes: 1, Instead of owning few single task-oriented robots, they would establish a fully automated warehouse. 2, Brands like GreyOrange, Vicarious, and Locus Robotics have joined hands with second vendors so that they can work on multi-robot automation. 3, Firms are integrating software providers and vendors, which would allow multi-robotic communication. WMS vendor’s report states that brands like Korber, Reply, and Softeon have started rolling out their robots with software systems for this cause. Read more from Supplychainbrain

TikTok’s insight reveals its usage percentage and how it influences the users

TikTok teamed up with Kantar and surveyed about 7,000 global users. The results conclude that people use the application to enjoy and connect with loved ones. 35% of users said they spend less time watching TV, and 45% said they spend less time using dating apps since they started using TikTok. 60% of users learn new recipes and DIY projects, 59% use the app to learn about the latest trends, while 25% buy products after watching an ad on TikTok. Users connect with friends through TikTok, as 66% of them participate in hashtag challenges, while 57% try new dance challenges. 81% of users plan to spend the same amount of time on TikTok. Read more from Socialmediatoday

USDA surveys consumers to gather comments regarding labeling of cell-based meat

USDA surveyed consumers and asked them to share their views about cell-based meat labelling. The information gathered via this survey would help the Federal Government to develop a thorough framework for the upcoming segment. The four questions asked in this survey are; 1, Should the names of cell-based meat products differ from animal meat products? 2, Which names suit these products best and which ones are unsuitable? 3, How can cell-based meat products be added to the “ingredient list” of finished products? 4, Which aspects of cell-based meat products would attract consumers towards these products. Read more from Fooddive

Chobani introduces sustainable paper-based packaging, retreats from plastic

Chobani’s has taken this initiative to shift from plastic to paper-based sustainable packaging. Chobani’s product line, including oat milk, cold brew coffee, and coffee creamers, rolls out recyclable paper-based packaging. The firm has introduced paper cups for single-serving oat blend yoghurt. Initially, this product used to come in plastic packing. The development of this paper-based packaging took two years, and by the end of this year, retailers would be able to sell them. Read more from Fooddive

Dole partnered with Blue Yonder to digitally transform its supply chain

Dole Food and Beverages has partnered with Blue Yonder to digitally transform its supply chain via two cloud-based solutions; Luminate Planning Portfolio and Control Tower. The digital supply chain can help the company achieve few goals: 1, Ensure end-to-end accountability by aligning the supply chain with local and global control towers. 2, Generate accurate and data-driven decisions supported by an integrated system. 3, Upgrade visualization and flexibility across the supply chain. Furthermore, automation offered by cloud-based solutions helps would help the company anticipate precise forecasts that would increase planning efficiency. Read more from Theshelbyreport

Wilson inaugurated a Tennis Museum and a “popup retail store”

Wilson Sports Goods is expanding its DTC push and has launched a pop-up store and a Tennis Museum at SoHo, NYC. The newly opened museum spotlights Wilson’s tennis journey. The museum showcases his major achievements, including Interracial Tennis Match, 1940. The retail shop includes ventures from his latest sportswear along with limited editioned equipment. Customers can get customized rackets and apparel. Shoppers can also watch tournaments from the second floor of the shop. Read more from Retaildive

Nestle launches its biggest R&D Accelerator to promote cross-category innovation

Nestle has opened its biggest R&D Accelerator in Lausanne Research Centre, Switzerland. The program is devoted to “accelerate the translation of fundamental science into cross-category innovation.” All entrepreneurs would have access to Nestle’s mainstream infrastructure and science and business specialities. Nestle has designed the area to accommodate ten teams. and it is equipped it with working stations, kitchens, and small-scale creation offices. Nestle’s first location of its R&D Accelerator now includes twelve sites in eight countries, and the UK is one of them. Read more from Fooddive

Unidigital, an ad-tech platform, has transformed physical packages into “trackable channels”

Unidigital has helped brands reach consumers in their happiest state, and that is when they open a package. It’s a 100% probability that consumers delete an unread brand marketing email, whereas a loyalty program offer or a product recommendation inserted inside the consumer order cannot go unread. That’s why Unidigital has transformed physical packages into “trackable channels.” Several brands like Tacha and Murad, Uniliver and Hello Sunshine are using Unidigital already. Tacha observed a 9% increased usage of its products due to Unidigtial’s strategy. Read more from Adweek

Kellogg is updating its North American supply chain by investing $45 million

Kellogg is planning to update its North American supply chain by investing $45 million in the coming three years. The food manufacturing firm plans to fulfil the demand of consumers for ready-to-eat cereals through this investment. It aims to “help offset inflation and reinvest in the brand.” Kellogg does not plan to stop any of its production lines. Instead, the brand will keep $4 million aside to offer severance and other termination benefits to employees. Read more from Fooddive

Starbucks creamer and Rebel ice cream outshined in Food and Beverage Industry

Starbucks creamers and Rebel ice cream secured fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in IRI’s New Product Pacesetters List 2020. Starbucks creamers reached $105 million in sales, gaining 76% distributions in just nine months. On the other hand, Rebel ice cream made $97 million in sales, securing 50% distribution. These products attracted millions of consumers as they are keto-friendly and sugar-free. Statistically, 9% of US families have brought Starbucks creamer in 2021, up from 5.2% in 2020. While, 3% of families have tried Rebel ice cream in 2021, an increase from 1.9% in 2020. Read more from Foodbusinessnews

“Home-centric eating behaviour” of consumers grew Campbell soup industry

Campbell soup secured two points in its fourth fiscal quarter this year in the US soup retail sales. In comparison with the previous two years, the consumption of Campbell soup increased by 16%, while instant serve consumption increased by 21% due to the “home-centric eating behaviour” of consumers. This growth implies that condensed soups, Swanson, Well Yes, and Pacific Foods Brands have also added to the greater profit, making the soup portfolio of Campbell demandable. The company revived its brand, improved the quality of existing products, and added more to the Pacific Foods and Well Yes product line. Read more from Fooddive

Starbucks teams up with Fila to satisfy sporty consumers in the APAC region

Starbucks has teamed up with Fila, a sportswear brand, to launch its street-style exclusive sports goods. This limited edition collection aims to merge fashionable designs with sports accessories. The collection of these two brands incorporates drinkware as well as sportswear and intends to excite adventure lovers. From 20 July, the latest collection has been made available at selected Starbucks outlets to consumers in the APAC region. Read more from Retailasia

Consumers prioritise Google as restaurant search engine, while fake reviews often mislead them

Research conducted by the Uberall company states that 69% of consumers opt for Google to explore local restaurants. However, during the pandemic, consumers did not tend to explore restaurants by brand name. Instead, the focus relied on convenience, vicinity, and rapidness. This trend decreased clicks for directions while increased clicks for delivery inquiries. 67% of consumers believe that fake reviews misguide them. Therefore, they tend to visit sites like GrubHub and DoorDash before deciding where to order food. Read more from Fastcasual

10 consumer trends that are shaping the business realm in 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the business realm and introduced changed patterns in consumers purchase in 2020 and 2021. Consumers who are 65+ remain accustomed to e-commerce, while adults plan to continue grocery shopping digitally even after the pandemic ends. Conventional retailers must incorporate digitalization with in-store fulfilment. With a majority of consumers staying at home, the makeup and fitness industry is facing a drop in sales and memberships. Productive space companies need to introduce new items to maintain their profitable statistics. Retailers might observe market demand for beauty and footwear eventually, as the pandemic ends. Read more from Npd

Improved higher ratings result in excessive sale

Increased sales are correlated with higher ratings. Even if the change is slight in ratings from 4.2 to 4.4, it will impact sales. The rating at which sales accelerate varies with categories such as office desks, cat food (3.5 stars), children’s car seats (4.4 stars), air purifiers (3.9 stars). Companies should adopt few strategies to improve sales through a star rating system. 1, Firms should work on the digital representation of the product. 2, Install tech systems to analyze ratings. 3, Work with providers and use the resources for the betterment of products. 4, Improve customer experiences. 5, Adopt upgraded approaches for work. Read more from Mckinsey

10 technology-driven packaging solutions resulted from innovations in AI

Innovations in AI have reshaped the packaging industry. With less or zero human input, programmed AI would be able to create 3D packaging prototypes. AI would prevent downtime by self-assessing the machines and timely identifying the problems. AI can not only customise packaging but help visualise packaging products via algorithms. Consumers would be able to reorder groceries with the help of FRID Tags or QR codes. The augmented and virtual reality handsets would enable them to look inside the closed packages. Companies would be able to maintain sustainability with AI-driven optimisations and keen tracking systems. Read more from Packagingstrategies

Home-stricken consumers are causing an upsurge in demand for Nestle Nespresso

Nestle’s Nespresso is highly demanded because consumers are enjoying home-brewed coffee due to the lockdown. E-commerce omnichannel presence is playing a vital role in increasing net sales of Nespresso. The Nespresso coffee apparatus, which comes with a brewing machine and capsules, has gained “high double digits” and the net sales went up by 17.1% in 2021. The owners aim to invest $127 million to meet the increasing demand for Nespresso in Switzerland. Nestle is currently prioritizing the cold coffee industry as the demand for cold coffee would reach $1 billion in 2025. Read more from Fooddive

Companies can play with flavours to boost snack sales

Mintel, a research firm, claims that 43% of consumers search for new flavours while 41% switch flavours rarely. Companies should experiment with flavours to bolster their snack sales. Gen Z and youngsters explore new flavours and prefer spicy and sharp flavours like buffalo and vinegar. Some most common flavours among youngsters are ranch, cheddar, salted, peanut butter. Older consumers prefer onion-flavoured snacks. Companies can pair unusual tastes like chilli, coffee, salami, coconut with familiarized potato or tortilla chips base. If companies use an unfamiliar base like dried Portobello mushrooms, they should combine it with common flavours. Some alternative bases accepted by consumers include chickpeas, cauliflower, black beans, and beets. Read more from Bakingbusiness

Victoria’s Secret launched its retailer store on JD.com, an online retailer

Victoria’s Secret, one of America’s largest intimate clothing brands, has opened its flagship retail store on JD.com. This store aims to launch its fine-quality bras, panties, apparel, and lingerie to Chinese consumers. The brand has launched its store before the Chinese Valentine’s Day celebrated on 14 August to attract customers. Victoria’s Secret is the world’s greatest intimate apparel retailer and owns 1400 stores and a workforce of 25,000 females globally. Read more from Retailasia

Consumer companies can abstain from three innovational traps using these solutions

CG companies need to make sure their products keep generating revenue after the year of their launch. The firms should avoid innovational traps like; new news, solitary procedure formula, and continuous product launch. Instead of attracting consumers by launching new products continuously, companies need to develop a long-term prioritized framework regarding existing products. Companies should launch products in growing categories when required instead of stagnant ones. Companies should also devise flexible development plans according to the product type to ensure profit even after years. Read more from Strategybusiness

Digital sampling of new products is the new norm in the beauty industry

Digital sampling is reshaping the beauty industry as sampling is a crucial step while purchasing beauty products. Due to the inclination towards personalization, members of Samplicity, a beauty sampling platform, allows sharing their data, so they receive specific market information. Brands benefit from this personalization as it helps them figure out subjective customer demands and provide them with the content they need. As per the Loreal Annual Report 2020, online sales of beauty products increased up to 40% as the feedbacks generated by offline sampling helped brands tremendously. Read more from Cosmeticsdesign

The food and beverage industry guarantees diversity in coming times

The food industry association (FMI) and Deloitte claimed that employees of 68% of companies are being trained on diversity to cope up with workforce challenges that lay ahead. 65% of food suppliers claimed that unfortunately, their authorities do not symbolize the overall population. FMI and Deloitte discovered that there has been only a 4% increase in recruitment of women and other minorities in the Food and Beverage Industry over two years. However, many companies have now guaranteed to bring diversity into their working teams in coming times. Read more from Fooddive

Contactless deliveries promote digitized solutions for the CPG supply chain

The Consumer Brands Association, an American National Trade Association, has given “operational standards” which require data from all steps involved in delivery and pickup procedure. These standards would encourage retailers to retreat from conventional paper-based delivery procedures and opt for contactless delivery, promoting a digital supply chain. Digitization would save approximately two tons of paper used per year. It will also decrease drivers’ physical interaction that would safeguard their health. Automation would also allow drivers to reduce the delivery time, which is forty minutes per facility, resulting in a resilient supply chain. Read more from Logisticsmgmt

NYC and Texas restaurants implement the “food as medicine” mantra as they claim to go vegan

Restaurants in NYC, midland, and Texas have reopened post-pandemic and are offering a vegan menu. Eleven Madison, an NYC restaurant, usually has a 15000 person waitlist. A restaurant in North Carolina entitled 2 Guys and Ribs reopened as a vegan restaurant and renamed it “2 Guys Pizza, Planet Family Food and Brews”. Margo’s Santa Monica, Los Angeles’ famous comfort food and cocktails eatery, switched to plant-based products that include their famous cocktails. Texas St. Brew reopened as a vegan restaurant offering cinnamon rolls, baked products, and street tacos made of Beyond meat’s beef. Read more from Businessinsider

Sustainability insight by Tyson’s chief sustainability officer

In an interview with CPG specialist, Tyson’s chief sustainability officer, John Tyson, mentioned that he is responsible to make Tyson the world’s sustainable protein company. He aims to improve the methodologies along with conserving the environment and natural resources. He mentioned that by 2050, they plan to go “carbon neutral” or net-zero across all supply chain operations. He maintains that sustainability is not limited to costing only. It goes beyond ROI and is an extended vision for a business focusing on improvements. Read more from Cpgspecialist

6 brands implemented and benefitted from SMS marketing strategy

58% of consumers want weekly SMS alerts from brands. Six brands have used this technique to achieve their respective aims. 1, Supergoop 2, Rainbow 3, ABH partnered with Attentive and launched “two-tap” sign-up at their mobile websites. This increased Supergoop sales up to 167%, Rainbow’s CTR up to 78%, and ABH subscribers up to 250%. 4, Dolce Volta sent six SMS to customers reminding them to shop during the sale season and generated 58% revenue. 5, Groove life wanted two-way conversational SMS for St. Patrick’s day campaign. They launched sign up units and promoted their St. Patrick scavenger hunt gaining 6000 new subscribers. 6, Pura Vida communicated with their subscribers via SMS and their subscription list grew by 411%.

General Mills satisfied customers by launching low-sugar yogurt sub-brands

General Mills have introduced “Oui French style range” and “ultra-low sugar :ratio” yoghurts. The :ratio keto sub-brand grew heavily by satisfying customers, who consume the keto diet. It maintains the right balance between proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. To control sugar :ratio keto uses “ultra-filtered milk” and an artificial sweetener, sucralose. The French style Oui line offers customers low sugar and high protein yoghurt, made with fine ingredients and served in glass pots. The company is soon launching its “Yoplait power” yoghurt along with some plant-based products.

The revolutionized future of consumer goods and retail

The future of consumer goods and retail has taken a revolutionary turn due to automation, robotics, digitized channels, and contactless strategies. As consumers are more inclined towards online buying, 25 to 35% of employees are opting for remote work, some are opting for hybrid work model, while less per cent of employees want to work from the office. To maintain a balance between hybrid and remote working, companies need to come up with advanced strategies. As per Mckinsey Global Institute research, 17 million people would like to switch jobs by 2030. Therefore, companies need to focus on reskilling.

The Reshaped fate of the $1.5 trillion wellness industry and how companies are keeping up with it

The $1.5 trillion global wellness market is growing 5 to 10% annually. Five consumer trends are reshaping the wellness industry and here’s how companies can benefit. 1, Consumers are inclined towards natural products; companies should reevaluate their developmental plan featuring natural products like Sephora. 2, 88% of consumers prioritize personalization over privacy; companies should establish personalized capabilities. 3, Rise in e-commerce; companies should introduce omnichannel. 4, Influencers influence 40% of purchases of Chinese and Brazilian consumers; companies should partner with agencies to create hype. 5, Services are a part of wellness; companies should offer healthcare services. Read more from Mckinsey

How developed countries’ consumers view four health and wellness trends

Here is how consumers of four developed countries view four health and wellness trends. 1, Personalization or privacy? German consumers prioritize privacy while US and Chinese customers are more inclined towards personalized solutions. 2. Inclination towards clean, natural products; 54% of American, majority of German and Chinese consumers are inclined towards natural products. US consumers prefer a natural “chain of ingredients.” 3, Rise of e-commerce; consumers from all around the globe opt to shop online like the US (60%), Germany (70%), UK (36%). 4, Wellness services; American consumers prioritize health services, while 50% of Chinese workers claim to invest more in wellness services. Read more from Mckinsey

Companies are now trying to teach robots how to communicate

Companies now aim to work and improve the following three areas to digitize their processes: 1, Instead of owning few single task-oriented robots, they would establish a fully automated warehouse. 2, Brands like GreyOrange, Vicarious, and Locus Robotics have joined hands with second vendors so that they can work on multi-robot automation. 3, Firms are integrating software providers and vendors, which would allow multi-robotic communication. WMS vendor’s report states that brands like Korber, Reply, and Softeon have started rolling out their robots with software systems for this cause. Read more from Supplychainbrain

TikTok’s insight reveals its usage percentage and how it influences the users

TikTok teamed up with Kantar and surveyed about 7,000 global users. The results conclude that people use the application to enjoy and connect with loved ones. 35% of users said they spend less time watching TV, and 45% said they spend less time using dating apps since they started using TikTok. 60% of users learn new recipes and DIY projects, 59% use the app to learn about the latest trends, while 25% buy products after watching an ad on TikTok. Users connect with friends through TikTok, as 66% of them participate in hashtag challenges, while 57% try new dance challenges. 81% of users plan to spend the same amount of time on TikTok. Read more from Socialmediatoday

USDA surveys consumers to gather comments regarding labeling of cell-based meat

USDA surveyed consumers and asked them to share their views about cell-based meat labelling. The information gathered via this survey would help the Federal Government to develop a thorough framework for the upcoming segment. The four questions asked in this survey are; 1, Should the names of cell-based meat products differ from animal meat products? 2, Which names suit these products best and which ones are unsuitable? 3, How can cell-based meat products be added to the “ingredient list” of finished products? 4, Which aspects of cell-based meat products would attract consumers towards these products. Read more from Fooddive

Chobani introduces sustainable paper-based packaging, retreats from plastic

Chobani’s has taken this initiative to shift from plastic to paper-based sustainable packaging. Chobani’s product line, including oat milk, cold brew coffee, and coffee creamers, rolls out recyclable paper-based packaging. The firm has introduced paper cups for single-serving oat blend yoghurt. Initially, this product used to come in plastic packing. The development of this paper-based packaging took two years, and by the end of this year, retailers would be able to sell them. Read more from Fooddive

Dole partnered with Blue Yonder to digitally transform its supply chain

Dole Food and Beverages has partnered with Blue Yonder to digitally transform its supply chain via two cloud-based solutions; Luminate Planning Portfolio and Control Tower. The digital supply chain can help the company achieve few goals: 1, Ensure end-to-end accountability by aligning the supply chain with local and global control towers. 2, Generate accurate and data-driven decisions supported by an integrated system. 3, Upgrade visualization and flexibility across the supply chain. Furthermore, automation offered by cloud-based solutions helps would help the company anticipate precise forecasts that would increase planning efficiency. Read more from Theshelbyreport

Wilson inaugurated a Tennis Museum and a “popup retail store”

Wilson Sports Goods is expanding its DTC push and has launched a pop-up store and a Tennis Museum at SoHo, NYC. The newly opened museum spotlights Wilson’s tennis journey. The museum showcases his major achievements, including Interracial Tennis Match, 1940. The retail shop includes ventures from his latest sportswear along with limited editioned equipment. Customers can get customized rackets and apparel. Shoppers can also watch tournaments from the second floor of the shop. Read more from Retaildive

Nestle launches its biggest R&D Accelerator to promote cross-category innovation

Nestle has opened its biggest R&D Accelerator in Lausanne Research Centre, Switzerland. The program is devoted to “accelerate the translation of fundamental science into cross-category innovation.” All entrepreneurs would have access to Nestle’s mainstream infrastructure and science and business specialities. Nestle has designed the area to accommodate ten teams. and it is equipped it with working stations, kitchens, and small-scale creation offices. Nestle’s first location of its R&D Accelerator now includes twelve sites in eight countries, and the UK is one of them. Read more from Fooddive

Unidigital, an ad-tech platform, has transformed physical packages into “trackable channels”

Unidigital has helped brands reach consumers in their happiest state, and that is when they open a package. It’s a 100% probability that consumers delete an unread brand marketing email, whereas a loyalty program offer or a product recommendation inserted inside the consumer order cannot go unread. That’s why Unidigital has transformed physical packages into “trackable channels.” Several brands like Tacha and Murad, Uniliver and Hello Sunshine are using Unidigital already. Tacha observed a 9% increased usage of its products due to Unidigtial’s strategy. Read more from Adweek

Kellogg is updating its North American supply chain by investing $45 million

Kellogg is planning to update its North American supply chain by investing $45 million in the coming three years. The food manufacturing firm plans to fulfil the demand of consumers for ready-to-eat cereals through this investment. It aims to “help offset inflation and reinvest in the brand.” Kellogg does not plan to stop any of its production lines. Instead, the brand will keep $4 million aside to offer severance and other termination benefits to employees. Read more from Fooddive

Starbucks creamer and Rebel ice cream outshined in Food and Beverage Industry

Starbucks creamers and Rebel ice cream secured fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in IRI’s New Product Pacesetters List 2020. Starbucks creamers reached $105 million in sales, gaining 76% distributions in just nine months. On the other hand, Rebel ice cream made $97 million in sales, securing 50% distribution. These products attracted millions of consumers as they are keto-friendly and sugar-free. Statistically, 9% of US families have brought Starbucks creamer in 2021, up from 5.2% in 2020. While, 3% of families have tried Rebel ice cream in 2021, an increase from 1.9% in 2020. Read more from Foodbusinessnews

“Home-centric eating behaviour” of consumers grew Campbell soup industry

Campbell soup secured two points in its fourth fiscal quarter this year in the US soup retail sales. In comparison with the previous two years, the consumption of Campbell soup increased by 16%, while instant serve consumption increased by 21% due to the “home-centric eating behaviour” of consumers. This growth implies that condensed soups, Swanson, Well Yes, and Pacific Foods Brands have also added to the greater profit, making the soup portfolio of Campbell demandable. The company revived its brand, improved the quality of existing products, and added more to the Pacific Foods and Well Yes product line. Read more from Fooddive

Starbucks teams up with Fila to satisfy sporty consumers in the APAC region

Starbucks has teamed up with Fila, a sportswear brand, to launch its street-style exclusive sports goods. This limited edition collection aims to merge fashionable designs with sports accessories. The collection of these two brands incorporates drinkware as well as sportswear and intends to excite adventure lovers. From 20 July, the latest collection has been made available at selected Starbucks outlets to consumers in the APAC region. Read more from Retailasia

Consumers prioritise Google as restaurant search engine, while fake reviews often mislead them

Research conducted by the Uberall company states that 69% of consumers opt for Google to explore local restaurants. However, during the pandemic, consumers did not tend to explore restaurants by brand name. Instead, the focus relied on convenience, vicinity, and rapidness. This trend decreased clicks for directions while increased clicks for delivery inquiries. 67% of consumers believe that fake reviews misguide them. Therefore, they tend to visit sites like GrubHub and DoorDash before deciding where to order food. Read more from Fastcasual

10 consumer trends that are shaping the business realm in 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the business realm and introduced changed patterns in consumers purchase in 2020 and 2021. Consumers who are 65+ remain accustomed to e-commerce, while adults plan to continue grocery shopping digitally even after the pandemic ends. Conventional retailers must incorporate digitalization with in-store fulfilment. With a majority of consumers staying at home, the makeup and fitness industry is facing a drop in sales and memberships. Productive space companies need to introduce new items to maintain their profitable statistics. Retailers might observe market demand for beauty and footwear eventually, as the pandemic ends. Read more from Npd

Improved higher ratings result in excessive sale

Increased sales are correlated with higher ratings. Even if the change is slight in ratings from 4.2 to 4.4, it will impact sales. The rating at which sales accelerate varies with categories such as office desks, cat food (3.5 stars), children’s car seats (4.4 stars), air purifiers (3.9 stars). Companies should adopt few strategies to improve sales through a star rating system. 1, Firms should work on the digital representation of the product. 2, Install tech systems to analyze ratings. 3, Work with providers and use the resources for the betterment of products. 4, Improve customer experiences. 5, Adopt upgraded approaches for work. Read more from Mckinsey

10 technology-driven packaging solutions resulted from innovations in AI

Innovations in AI have reshaped the packaging industry. With less or zero human input, programmed AI would be able to create 3D packaging prototypes. AI would prevent downtime by self-assessing the machines and timely identifying the problems. AI can not only customise packaging but help visualise packaging products via algorithms. Consumers would be able to reorder groceries with the help of FRID Tags or QR codes. The augmented and virtual reality handsets would enable them to look inside the closed packages. Companies would be able to maintain sustainability with AI-driven optimisations and keen tracking systems. Read more from Packagingstrategies

Home-stricken consumers are causing an upsurge in demand for Nestle Nespresso

Nestle’s Nespresso is highly demanded because consumers are enjoying home-brewed coffee due to the lockdown. E-commerce omnichannel presence is playing a vital role in increasing net sales of Nespresso. The Nespresso coffee apparatus, which comes with a brewing machine and capsules, has gained “high double digits” and the net sales went up by 17.1% in 2021. The owners aim to invest $127 million to meet the increasing demand for Nespresso in Switzerland. Nestle is currently prioritizing the cold coffee industry as the demand for cold coffee would reach $1 billion in 2025. Read more from Fooddive

Companies can play with flavours to boost snack sales

Mintel, a research firm, claims that 43% of consumers search for new flavours while 41% switch flavours rarely. Companies should experiment with flavours to bolster their snack sales. Gen Z and youngsters explore new flavours and prefer spicy and sharp flavours like buffalo and vinegar. Some most common flavours among youngsters are ranch, cheddar, salted, peanut butter. Older consumers prefer onion-flavoured snacks. Companies can pair unusual tastes like chilli, coffee, salami, coconut with familiarized potato or tortilla chips base. If companies use an unfamiliar base like dried Portobello mushrooms, they should combine it with common flavours. Some alternative bases accepted by consumers include chickpeas, cauliflower, black beans, and beets. Read more from Bakingbusiness

Victoria’s Secret launched its retailer store on JD.com, an online retailer

Victoria’s Secret, one of America’s largest intimate clothing brands, has opened its flagship retail store on JD.com. This store aims to launch its fine-quality bras, panties, apparel, and lingerie to Chinese consumers. The brand has launched its store before the Chinese Valentine’s Day celebrated on 14 August to attract customers. Victoria’s Secret is the world’s greatest intimate apparel retailer and owns 1400 stores and a workforce of 25,000 females globally. Read more from Retailasia

Consumer companies can abstain from three innovational traps using these solutions

CG companies need to make sure their products keep generating revenue after the year of their launch. The firms should avoid innovational traps like; new news, solitary procedure formula, and continuous product launch. Instead of attracting consumers by launching new products continuously, companies need to develop a long-term prioritized framework regarding existing products. Companies should launch products in growing categories when required instead of stagnant ones. Companies should also devise flexible development plans according to the product type to ensure profit even after years. Read more from Strategybusiness

Digital sampling of new products is the new norm in the beauty industry

Digital sampling is reshaping the beauty industry as sampling is a crucial step while purchasing beauty products. Due to the inclination towards personalization, members of Samplicity, a beauty sampling platform, allows sharing their data, so they receive specific market information. Brands benefit from this personalization as it helps them figure out subjective customer demands and provide them with the content they need. As per the Loreal Annual Report 2020, online sales of beauty products increased up to 40% as the feedbacks generated by offline sampling helped brands tremendously. Read more from Cosmeticsdesign

The food and beverage industry guarantees diversity in coming times

The food industry association (FMI) and Deloitte claimed that employees of 68% of companies are being trained on diversity to cope up with workforce challenges that lay ahead. 65% of food suppliers claimed that unfortunately, their authorities do not symbolize the overall population. FMI and Deloitte discovered that there has been only a 4% increase in recruitment of women and other minorities in the Food and Beverage Industry over two years. However, many companies have now guaranteed to bring diversity into their working teams in coming times. Read more from Fooddive

Contactless deliveries promote digitized solutions for the CPG supply chain

The Consumer Brands Association, an American National Trade Association, has given “operational standards” which require data from all steps involved in delivery and pickup procedure. These standards would encourage retailers to retreat from conventional paper-based delivery procedures and opt for contactless delivery, promoting a digital supply chain. Digitization would save approximately two tons of paper used per year. It will also decrease drivers’ physical interaction that would safeguard their health. Automation would also allow drivers to reduce the delivery time, which is forty minutes per facility, resulting in a resilient supply chain. Read more from Logisticsmgmt

NYC and Texas restaurants implement the “food as medicine” mantra as they claim to go vegan

Restaurants in NYC, midland, and Texas have reopened post-pandemic and are offering a vegan menu. Eleven Madison, an NYC restaurant, usually has a 15000 person waitlist. A restaurant in North Carolina entitled 2 Guys and Ribs reopened as a vegan restaurant and renamed it “2 Guys Pizza, Planet Family Food and Brews”. Margo’s Santa Monica, Los Angeles’ famous comfort food and cocktails eatery, switched to plant-based products that include their famous cocktails. Texas St. Brew reopened as a vegan restaurant offering cinnamon rolls, baked products, and street tacos made of Beyond meat’s beef. Read more from Businessinsider

Sustainability insight by Tyson’s chief sustainability officer

In an interview with CPG specialist, Tyson’s chief sustainability officer, John Tyson, mentioned that he is responsible to make Tyson the world’s sustainable protein company. He aims to improve the methodologies along with conserving the environment and natural resources. He mentioned that by 2050, they plan to go “carbon neutral” or net-zero across all supply chain operations. He maintains that sustainability is not limited to costing only. It goes beyond ROI and is an extended vision for a business focusing on improvements. Read more from Cpgspecialist