Top Grocery Retailer and Food Supply Chain News Feb 16 – 28
By iFoodDS Team
February 28, 2023
Here is our bi-weekly roundup of the latest food industry news. In the weeks of February 16 – 28, new research identified how consumers feel about the quality of frozen produce and fresh produce was identified as the main category for organic sales. Small independent grocers discussed their challenges with The Packer and private label sales continue to grow.
Consumers’ Views on Frozen Food
Advantage Solutions conducted a 1000 shopper survey. Half of the participants felt that frozen produce had the same or better quality as fresh fruits and vegetables or canned counterparts.
Fresh Produce Dominates Organic Food Sales
The USDA Economic Research Service identified that organic produce is the dominant category among organic food sales. Grocery retail is the biggest sales channel for organic fruits and vegetables.
Challenges of Small Independent Grocers
The Packer chatted with small independent grocers to discuss some of their challenges, like labor and rising prices. Some of the solutions mentioned were technology adoption and offering high-quality products to consumers to show value.
Private Labels Sales on the Rise
According to data from the Private Label Manufacturers Association and IRI private label sales grew 11% in 2022. Refrigerated products and general food products are the categories that had the most significant sales growth.
Retailers and Foodservice Names in Forbes list of Best Large Employers
Aldi, H-E-B, Trader Joe´s, Costco, Wegmans and Publix were among the best large employers named in the most recent survey conducted by Forbes.
Online Grocery Sales Expected to Grow
The State of Digital Grocery Performance Scorecard by Incisiv and Wynshop’s Grocery Doppio predicts that shoppers will spend around 3% to 7% more on online grocery purchases than they did in 2022.