inStorebuyer - October 2012 - (Page 3)

editor’snote OCT 12 | VOL 8 | ISSUE 9 INSIGHT FOR BUSINESS ON THE RISE EDITORIAL STAFF John Unrein | Editor Joanie Spencer | Managing Editor Bob Sims | Staff Writer Timmy Trabon | Online Editor Lauren Allen | 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 Lessons from the Road It appears the mini dessert trend continues to explode, based on personal observations during recent travels to Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and New York. At Dorothy Lane Market, a local favorite in Dayton, OH, their famous Killer Brownie is proving to be a huge sales hook in multiple sizes, especially as quartered portions in the 12-inch Killer Brownie Tray, which sells for $50 and feeds up to 20 people. Giant stores in Baltimore are busy merchandising 12-count mini muffins and 9-count mini cinnamon rolls, displayed in fancy wicker baskets. Even Walgreens in Chicago now sells red velvet cake squares in single-serve packages. Bakers long have fretted over putting too much energy and labor into producing something small. You’re aiming for maximum economies of scale, so if you can’t sell enough minis, you’ve got big trouble. It makes sense to approach the mini dessert trend with caution. Still, remember that mini desserts, when packaged, add up to higher price points and more attractive gross dollar margins. And packaged mini desserts play well to two of the biggest trends in bakery: Consumers are looking to manage the portion sizes of the foods they eat, and at the same time, they want more flavor options. Packaged mini dessert trays with multiple flavors (aim for about four choices of flavors) are the answer to current shopper demands. Mini cupcakes are the next big trend. Don’t be surprised to see many more mini cupcakes pop up on the retail bakery front in the year ahead. This will influence how often consumers seek out mini cupcakes from the supermarket, as well, so be prepared. Scrutinize your pricing options and variety assortments of mini dessert trays/packages based on customer demand. Then start downsizing, and watch your profits grow. John Unrein junrein@sosland.com INSTORE BUYER (ISSN 1554-348x) Volume 8, issue 9 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 | October 2012 | 3 |

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

inStorebuyer - October 2012
Editor's Note - Lessons from the Road
Table of Contents
Front Line News - Kroger Unveils Simple Truth Brand
Walmart Teaches Healthy Habits
The Safeway Foundation Airs Cancer Awareness PSA
Food Service Retail - The New Family Mealtime
Baking & Decorating - Breakfast on the Run
Bakery Development - Donut Growth
Deli Development - Deli Meats Grow Dollars, Lose Volume
The Fun Zone
Know Your Loyal Customers
Packaging Innovation - Tackling Food Tampering
Package to Show
Health & Nutrition - Portion Control
Cheese Corner - Spreadable Cheese
Product Trends
Product Showcase
Marketplace Network

inStorebuyer - October 2012