Progressive Grocer - October 2008 - (Page 74)

Fresh food Good will hunting Food will still be the focus of seasonal celebrations, but thrifty consumers will count on grocers to help them get more bang for their buck. By Meg Major inding the right balance when passing along cost increases to consumers is always a challenge for grocers. But as the industry continues to wrestle mightilyPG 4th PanAdSignso.ai wholewith transportation and 4/22/08 F sale cost hikes, coupled with a dearth of discretionary consumer spending, this already tricky job will be tougher still during the all-important upcoming holiday selling season. “Consumers are in a cost-conscious mood, and more focused on value than ever before,” notes Stacy Janiak, Deloitte’s U.S. retail leader. Retailers that can offer unique value propositions 3:36:24 PM via price, customer service, loyalty programs, or some other means “will be best positioned to attract the consumer’s attention,” suggests Janiak. What’s more, given the seemingly constant parade of bad news from the financial sector, grocers can ill afford to leave their holiday promotional plans on autopilot. To the contrary, the proof will be in the figgy pudding as the best-positioned grocers concentrate this season on the products that help build consumer connections the whole year through. Consumer bloggers have already been busy writing about strategies to stretch holiday food budgets, including religiously watching weekly grocery ads. And though family traditions generally have the greatest influence on holiday mealplanning decisions, economic factors are sure to play a larger role during the last two months of 2008, a year that’s been woefully short on economic cheer. Grocers will at least be able to gain a shred of comfort, however, in lower turkey prices expected this season, following a increase in warehouse supplies to a five-year high as a result of the largest quantity of turkey in cold storage since 2003. Ditto for chicken, which is also residing at the largest cold-storage levels since 2002, according to the Lakewood, Colo.-based Livestock Marketing Information Center, which thus foresees stronger74 than-usual poultry promotional activity in the fourth quarter. The Washington-based National Turkey Federation (NTF) launched an effort in early fall to communicate that nutrient-rich turkey offers shoppers the best bang for their buck, not only during the holidays, but also year-round. NTF is prompting consumers to do their homework by not only reviewing weekly specials and Cargill’s newly seeking multiple renamed beef coupon sources, cuts, such as the but also by eval- Cabrosa Steak uating the yield (below), are set to of products such spark excitement as ground turkey in the meat case. while considering economical turkey parts like wings, drumsticks, and thighs. Whole turkeys offer an even greater opportunity for savings, due to the variety of recipes suitable for dark and light meat, while turkey breast cuts offer an endless supply of entrees when sliced into cutlets, steaks, chops, www.progressivegrocer.com • Progressive Grocer • October 2008 http://www.pangea-cds.com http://www.pangea-cds.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - October 2008

Progressive Grocer - October 2008
Contents
Front End:�Supervalu Will Make Its Lastest Green Prototype a 'Star'
Nielsen's Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight:�Produce/Spinach
Market Snapshot: Detroit, Mich.
Lempert Report: The Domino Effect of Weather and Money Woes
Independents Report:�Haggai Leads With Love
Store of the Month
Shopper Experience
Green Grocer Awards
Food Safety
Shopper Culture
Bottled Water
Heritage Brands
2008 Produce Operations Review
Special Events Marketing
Petroleum Operations
Technology:�Upgrading for Tomorrow's Shoppers
Equipment Innovations
Financial Insights: Are Better Days on the Horizon?
What's Next:�Editor's Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - October 2008

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