inStorebuyer - February 2012 - (Page 3)

editor’snote FEB 12 | VOL 8 | ISSUE 1 INSIGHT FOR BUSINESS ON THE RISE EDITORIAL STAFF John Unrein | Editor Joanie Spencer | Managing Editor Bob Sims | Staff Writer Timmy Trabon | Online Editor Cayce Richardson | Senior Designer SALES STAFF Troy Ashby Associate Publisher/Sales Lily O’Kane Classified Sales Representative PUBLISHING STAFF Charles S. Sosland Chairman L. Joshua Sosland Vice-chairman Mark Sabo President & Publishing Director John Sonderegger Publisher Melanie Hepperly Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer Don Keating Audience Development Director Sadowna Conarroe Design Services Manager Steve Piatt Classified Designer Dana Holt Manager of Directories & Databases Carrie Fluegge Director of On-line Advertising & Promotions Jon Hall Director of e-Business Nora Wages Advertising Manager Sharon Alexander Advertising Materials Coordinator Marj Potts Digital Systems Analyst Becky White Manager of Advertising Design Judy Arnone Circulation Manager Taré Torres Promotions Manager A Year of Opportunity As a result of the new realities of the U.S. economy, supermarkets are rolling out new deals and new store formats designed with shoppers who are searching for quick and economical solutions while at the same time demanding interesting new flavors and healthful meal ideas. A shining example of this can be found in Pittsburgh, PA, where Giant Eagle recently unveiled a newly expanded 90,000-square-foot culinary, dining and shopping destination under its innovative Market District store banner. The many customer-focused features of this store offer a valuable glimpse of how to address the changing demands of bakery and deli shoppers. The economic reality in America is that rising commodity prices have disrupted the shopping patterns of a number of shoppers who, in some cases, have traded down or even traded out of their favorite neighborhood store. Consider Delhaize America’s recent announcement that it will retire its higher end Bloom banner and convert 42 Bloom stores in Virginia and Maryland to Food Lion this year. Food price inflation for 2012 is expected to abate from 2011 levels but is projected to be slightly above the historical average for the past two decades. The all-food Consumer Price Index is projected to increase 2.5% to 3.5% over 2011 levels, with food-at-home prices increasing 3% to 4% and food-away-from-home prices increasing 2% to 3%. This year will be a good barometer for understanding what bakery and deli shoppers want most for the near term. Convenience. Portion control. More daily deals. All of the above? The challenge for instores will be to manage consumers’ ever-changing demands in a responsive and profitable manner. John Unrein junrein@sosland.com INSTORE BUYER (ISSN 1554-348x) Volume 8, issue 1 is published 10 times a year, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct and Dec by Sosland Publishing Co., 4800 Main Street, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64112. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canada Distribution) Sales Agreement Number 40015261. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes International, P Box .O. 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Printed in the USA. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to INSTORE BUYER, PO Box 324, Congers, NY 10920-0324. © Sosland Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. INSTORE BUYER assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in items reported. Sosland Publishing Co. is a division of Sosland Companies. Inc. SUBSCRIBER Services ADDRESS. TELEPHONE, FAX, E-MAIL Editorial and sales offices are located at 4800 Main St., Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 64112. Phone: (816) 756-1000. The switchboard is open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Our main fax number is 816=756=0494; advertising sales can be reached by fax at 816=756=2618. Our e-mail address is bakingbuyer@sosland.com. This number is available for corresponding with any BB department. SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADDRESS CHANGES InStore Buyer is distributed free of charge to qualified readers with managerial responsibilities in in-store, foodservice, retail, specialty wholesale and distribution businesses. For non-qualified readers, U.S. subscriptions are accepted at $60 per year. Other foreign subscriptions (from outside the territory of the U.S. and its possessions) are accepted at $80 per year. For subscription information or address changes, call the Circulation Department at (816) 756-1000. BACK ISSUES Single copies are $15 and are available from the Circulation Department. Special issue prices vary. REPRINTS, PHOTOCOPY PERMISSION Requests for reprints of articles should be sent to reprints@sosland.com or call (816) 756-1000. InStore Buyer is copyrighted; reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Photocopy permission for academic purposes may be obtained from the editor. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Comments and opinions by our readers are welcome. Please send letters to the editor to our mail address, by fax or e-mail. DIRECTORIES Special directories and buyer’s guides are published annually for the baking, grain and milling industries. For details and prices of these publications, call the Circulation Department at (816) 756-1000. A FFILIATED P UBLICATIONS 4800 Main Street, Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 64112 Phone: (816) 756-1000 · Fax: (816) 756-0494 E-mail: bakingbuyer@sosland.com | inStorebuyer | February 2012 | 3 |

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of inStorebuyer - February 2012

inStorebuyer - February 2012
Editor's Note - A Year of Opportunity
Table of Contents
Front Line News - Nielsen Acquires Perishables Group
Front Line News - WRAP Award for Stater Bros.
Front Line News - Fresh Market Promotes Crane
Front Line News - Peerless Unveils New Brand Look
Front Line News - Caravan Scores Superior Ratings
Front Line News - Costco CEO Recognized
Food Service Retail - Meal Add-Ons
Baking & Decorating - Mousse Appeal
Bakery Development - Specialty Desserts Stay in the Spotlight
Deli Development - Growth for Deli Side Dishes
Deals, Meals & Appeals
A Giant Step
Equipment & Technology - Mobile Solutions
Health & Nutrition - Explaining Gluten-Free
Cheese Corner - Create A Shopping Pattern
Product Trends
Product Showcase
Marketplace Network

inStorebuyer - February 2012