Retail Industry Insights

Cannedbeans.org is an unbranded campaign designed to educate Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) about the universal health benefits of canned beans.

I’ve always loved the sights and even the smells of being on a farm and this past week I was able to join 10 other dietitians in an immersive Farm Camp at a rural location on Catoctin Mountain in Maryland.

Last Wednesday, the White House extended team created history by hosting the second ever summit on hunger, nutrition, and health. The full strategy, as an outcome of the conference and activities leading up to the live event, is available here.  This article highlights key points for retailers as well as subtle undertones of the meeting.

There is an old adage “You are what you eat,” and even today, it’s still rings true. The foods we eat help feed our whole body, and that includes our brain. What we feed ourselves doesn’t just affect our physical performance, but our mental or cognitive well-being as well.

Store displays can serve as a silent sales assistant for wellness programming and health-focused promotional campaigns. The trick is to make sure displays include some of the basics that engage shoppers and drive sales. They need to do more than just look nice. If you currently have accountability for an in-store display, or if you want to negotiate space to enhance your services, here are some ways to demonstrate and communicate that you understand what it takes to make a display successful.

It’s common knowledge that Google has wanted to get into the business of selling us things – just like Amazon does – for years. But they just haven’t seemed to make it work, or get us to see Google as that type of service.

The pandemic has changed retail forever and included in these changes are merchandising strategies. Today’s shopper wants to spend less time in the store, has less choices on the shelves, and is faced with a continuing rise in prices. A marketer’s dream . . .NOT!

Rising food costs and consumer lifestyle changes have created disruptions in the industry and grocers must be focused on how to cater to customers now and in the future. In a recent report from FMI called “Future Outlook”, research insights and upcoming predictions were highlighted. Here are some of the key trends that retailers should watch:   

With owned brands offering value to retailers and consumers alike, RDBA has recently highlighted opportunities for retail RDs to promote private label in their healthy living programs, events and services. Another option to bring heightened visibility to owned brands is participation in the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database (GBFPD) – a publicly available database used for research and policy purposes by government, academic researchers, health professionals, and the food industry.

The retail dietitian role continues to evolve, making it an interesting and varied career path. As I talk to individual RDs, I’m amazed at the opportunities (and challenges, if I’m being honest) that emerge. Recently, three retail RDs have gotten involved with acquisitions by their companies, and I had the opportunity to connect with them on the dietitian’s role in these moves.