Whether quick-service, fast-casual or a full-service restaurant, consumers are experimenting with new flavors and seeking more premium offerings like specialty coffee, cold-brew coffee and iced tea while dining out.
Seattle-based Amazon and Whole Foods Market Inc., Austin, Texas, announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire Whole Foods Market for $42 a share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $13.7 billion, including Whole Foods Market’s net debt.
Since homebrewing became federally legal in 1979, the number of people brewing beer at home has climbed to more than 1.2 million in the United States alone, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based American Homebrewers Association (AHA).
Foodservice chain pairs release with summer sweepstakes
May 30, 2017
Sonic Drive-In, Oklahoma City, is teaming up with Paramount Pictures and the upcoming June 21 theatrical release of “Transformers: The Last Knight,” directed by Michael Bay, to deliver a new lineup of icy Slushes and a chance to win thousands of prizes with the Sonic Transform Your Summer Sweepstakes.
Although category management and merchandising commonly are associated with shelf resets and assortment rationalization, for White Plains, N.Y.-based HEINEKEN USA, it is much more than that. The global beer company works to thoroughly understand its consumers’ beer-drinking occasions while building relationships with retailers that will drive long-term, sustainable customer loyalty, says Vikas Satyal, senior director of category development.
Although more than half of consumers have purchased milk, juice and/or carbonated soft drinks in the past 30 days, sales were stagnant during 2014-2015 with top categories struggling to grab consumer attention, according to Chicago-based Mintel’s June 2016 “Beverage Packaging Trends” report.
Regardless of whether consumers are drinking beer, wine or spirits when dining out, suggested food pairings and recommendations from influencers, like bartenders and wait staff, can motivate consumers to try something new or trade up to a more premium product.
As consumers’ shopping behaviors continue to evolve, the drug store channel has seen a boon within beverage aisles. Although the channel is struggling to grow, beverages could offer potential for the channel going forward as these stores expand their offerings, says Evan Hoffman, industry research analyst at Los Angeles-based IBISWorld.
As today’s consumers spend their dollars across more channels and store formats, retailers are facing increased competition for dollar share, experts note. Despite this fact, the overall discount retail channel performed “quite well” last year as dollar stores drove growth of nearly 7 percent, notes Jon Hauptman, senior director of retail at Long Grove, Ill.-based Willard Bishop Co., an Inmar analytics company.