Trends

Every day from now until the end of the year, news feeds are filled with trend predictions, including those related to food and nutrition. To consider what trends you need to watch closely and consider incorporating into your programs and services, consider these trend watches.

To continue to engage their shoppers as well as their shareholders, retailers are getting more active in sustainable sourcing and packaging and making long-term commitments in this space. Consider the following retail programs as you assess how sustainability aligns within your health and wellbeing programs and services.

While dietitians always promote foods first, vitamins and supplements can be beneficial to health and wellbeing as well as a valuable profit center to the retail store. And who hasn’t seen that shopper walking up and down the supplement aisles trying to figure out what to buy?

Produce is an absolute powerhouse in grocery, and even in light of inflation, it still commands about 30% of total fresh sales. Because produce is such a trip magnet, more than half of the time someone goes to the grocery store for anything, they are purchasing something from the produce section.

Strategies and directions change, the first White House Summit on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in 50 years happens, and inflation drives retailers to focus on customer retention and loyalty. All these factors are driving new activations in the health and well-being space at retail. This week, we’re featuring initiatives you’ll want to keep your eye on.

Can I eat fruit if I have diabetes? Should I go low carb? Will I ever be able to eat and enjoy dessert?  I asked myself these same questions while shopping at the supermarket for the first time after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It took me around three hours to shop, and I left confused and overwhelmed. 

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I am late to awareness of the full movement that is quiet quitting. Stacy Bates from H-E-B brought it to my attention and schooled me in the basics. I have since discussed the movement with multiple retail RDs, done my fair share of reading on the topic, and talked with my Gen Z son about it. Here are my thoughts on its application to the life of RDs working in the retail setting.

Unless you’re living under a rock somewhere, you already know that Kroger is buying Albertsons for over $24 billion. This acquisition is already coming under close scrutiny from the Feds and in less than a week since the announcement, the Senate has formed a subcommittee to determine if there any anti-trust violations.

The FMI 2022 Power of Private Brands report, found that 40% of consumers have purchased more store brands since before the onset of COVID-19, and three-quarters of those shoppers aim to continue putting private brands in their cart.

With temperatures dropping and the holiday season approaching, your shoppers are likely busier (and more stressed) than ever. Which makes it a great time to remind them of the importance of including a variety of snacks throughout the day to help them through their busy days.