Convenience Retailer

New product of the day—La Terra Fina Greek Yogurt Blends

Move over, garbanzo beans. Retailers looking to energize their prepared foods cases now have new options from top-selling refrigerated spread maker La Terra Fina. The most innovative idea in dips since hummus, La Terra Fina’s six new products blend healthy, fresh vegetables with popular Greek yogurt. As versatile as they are flavorful, the dips add something special to everything from sandwiches and wraps, to crackers and veggie platters. The six new flavors include Greek Kalamata Olives & Spinach, Balsamic Beet & White Bean, Roasted Yellow Pepper & Lentil, Red Lentil Curry, Creamy Spinach & Bacon and Caramelized Onion. La Terra Fina’s new products are all gluten-free and contain no nuts or trans fats. As an effort to minimize environmental impact, the packaging is made from 100 percent recycled bottles, and it is shaped in 10 oz. squares for more efficient stocking and shipping. The dips are available now at a MSRP of $4.99.

La Terra Fina
855.655.6418
www.laterrafina.com

‘Mobile Chasm’ Emerging Between Top Retailers, Consumers

A chasm is developing between retailers and cash conscious consumers, as Americans turn to smartphones for coupons and product information only to

find many leading retailers have yet to integrate mobile into their shopping experience.
A report from global interactive marketing provider ExactTarget found more than half of America’s fastest growing retailers have yet to fully connect online and offline shopping experiences, leaving shoppers unsatisfied.

“As we prepare for this holiday season, marketers must consider how consumers use their mobile phones while shopping,” said Jeff Rohrs, ExactTarget’s Vice President of Marketing Research and Education. “Shoppers are turning to their phones for coupons, promotions and discounts, and marketers have a never-before-seen opportunity to transform these interactions into ongoing conversations that drive sales and repeat purchases.”

The use of mobile is on the rise, according to a report from independent research firm Forrester Research. Twice as many consumers compared to last year are researching products for purchase using their mobile device. The report also found more U.S. mobile phone owners are downloading applications and receiving SMS/text alerts compared to last year.

To help marketers bridge the mobile chasm ahead of the holiday shopping season, ExactTarget released its Retail Touchpoints Exposed report, providing practical tips and technical advice to integrate mobility into existing marketing efforts across email, social media and the web. The report includes several key tips.

First, it is important for retailers to be bold and strategic. Use calls-to-action signage that conveys how to engage with the company via email, SMS and social media. Second, get creative. For example, implement SMS calls-to-action that encourage customers to try new products. Next, educate and incentivize sales associates on how to encourage customers to engage via social media, review sites and SMS. Offer digital copies of receipts via email, promoting channels for online feedback and social engagement. Embrace cross-channel promotion, giving customers the ability to connect through multiple channels by promoting other channels using social networks. And implement a cart abandonment program for shoppers who fail to complete their online transactions.

ExactTarget is a leading global provider of email marketing and cross-channel interactive marketing software-as-a-service solutions that empower organizations of all sizes to communicate with their customers through email, mobile, social media and websites. This new research follows the launch of ExactTarget MobileConnect. Available as a standalone application or fully integrated into the ExactTarget Interactive Marketing Hub, MobileConnect provides a powerful and intuitive cloud-based application to power SMS alerts and mobile marketing messaging worldwide. To learn more, visit www.ExactTarget.com/Mobile.

New product of the day—Candyrific Star Wars Classic Talkers

“May the Force be with you.” The Sith Lord Darth Vader and the beloved Yoda, celebrated characters from the Star Wars™ galaxy, top the latest Talkers from CandyRific. The new Star Wars Classic Talkers join CandyRific’s growing Star Wars Classic line, which already includes Star Wars Classic 12-inch gumball dispensers and candy fans. Each Talker comes complete with .53 oz. of microbytes candy. Yoda and Darth Vader each have four sayings, including “Join me and together we can rule the galaxy,” and “Don’t underestimate the Force,” from Darth Vader, and “You must feel the Force around you” and “For my ally is the Force and a powerful ally it is,” from Yoda. CandyRific’s new Star Wars Talkers are available to retailers at a wholesale price of $2.95. MSRP is $3.99. The Talkers will be shipped to retailers in cases of six 12-count displays. CandyRific sells candy and novelty product combinations utilizing a number of popular licensed brands. Brands in CandyRific’s portfolio include M&M’s®, Skittles®, Starburst®, Scooby-Doo, and Dreamworks. 

CandyRific
502.893.3626
www.candyrific.com

Retailers Forecasting 4.5 Percent Increase in Total Sales for 2012

Following a better-than-expected back-to-school season, retailers are optimistic for year-end retail sales. According to a new survey from BDO USA, LLP, retail experts predict a 4.5 percent increase in total 2012 sales. Experts are also growing more confident in the overall economic picture. While a majority (57 percent) expect to see a continuation of stagnant economic conditions in the near future, the number forecasting an ongoing economic turnaround (32 percent) nearly tripled this year, up from just 11 percent in 2011.

“Consumers proved resilient through back-to-school season, and that is fueling greater optimism for holiday sales results,” said Doug Hart, partner in the Retail and Consumer Product Practice at BDO USA. “But retailers aren’t counting their dollars just yet. Forecasts are cautious as retailers closely watch unemployment, election results and inventory levels, any of which could throw a wrench in holiday results.”

These findings are from the sixth-annual BDO Retail Compass Survey of CFOs, which examined the opinions of 100 chief financial officers at leading retailers located throughout the country. The retailers in the study were among the largest in the country, including 11 of the top 100 companies with the highest annual sales revenue in the nation. The survey was conducted in August and September.

According to the survey, a majority of CFOs (55 percent) stated they have maintained their inventory levels for the 2012 holiday season comparable to last year. While one-in-four say they increased their inventory, overall, CFOs project only a slight increase of 1.1 percent over 2011 levels. Retailers remain divided about whether too much or insufficient inventory is the bigger risk to their holiday sales. Amid pressures to avoid heavy discounting and preserve margins, 58 percent of retailers say too much inventory is the greatest risk. This is a change from 2011 when a majority (53 percent) cited insufficient inventory as the bigger risk.

Inventory levels, however, are not the greatest threat to margins for most retailers. Instead, the cost of products tops the list, with 40 percent of retail CFOs noting cost as their primary threat. Those surveyed also cited logistics and transportation (18 percent) and store operating costs (17 percent) as risks, in addition to inventory levels and markdowns (17 percent).

When asked which economic challenge has had the greatest impact on consumer confidence so far this year, 60 percent of those surveyed said unemployment. Amid fluctuating jobless claims and an unemployment rate still above 8 percent, it is no surprise that 41 percent of retailers say unemployment will have the most impact on consumer confidence during the remainder of 2012. As political tensions mount and Election Day draws near, another 29 percent point to the presidential race and its outcome as a major challenge. Retailers also point out financial market volatility (15 percent), personal credit availability and debt levels (7 percent), a weak housing market (6 percent) and fuel prices (2 percent) as major influencers of consumer confidence in the remainder of the year.

For more information on BDO USA and the Retail Compass Survey, please visit www.bdo.com.

Cree Lighting Taking Industry by Storm with Suite of New Product Offerings

The growing demand for LED lighting solutions combined with increasingly stringent energy and building codes require new advancements in technology. A leader in lighting design, Cree, Inc. recently announced the introduction of a variety of innovations in the field of energy-efficient lighting.

First, Cree is partnering with Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. to embed Lutron EcoSystem® technology on a chip in Cree® luminaires, in order to accelerate LED adoption and increase energy efficiency for building designers, contractors and owners. The combination of industry-leading LED technology from Cree with proven energy control strategies from Lutron promises to yield the world’s most energy-efficient commercial lighting control and delivery system. “With this alliance, we set out to fix a problem. It breaks new ground for LED fixtures and control systems, turning compatibility into a feature, not a challenge,” said Gary Trott, Vice President of Market Development for Cree. “An integrated system can increase performance across the board—efficiency, lifetime and payback. It just works.”

Cree is also introducing a new four-inch CR4™ LED downlight, as well as a higher lumen output six-inch downlight. Relentless innovation has enabled Cree to attack cost barriers to LED adoption, while exceeding the industry’s highest standards for performance, color quality and ease of use. The new six-inch CR6™ downlight uses 87 percent less energy than comparable incandescent lighting and, in many commercial installations, delivers payback in less than one year.

Both new downlights are powered by Cree TrueWhite® Technology. Cree TrueWhite Technology delivers beautiful light and maintains color consistency over the rated lifetime of the product, all while maintaining high luminous efficacy. The new downlights easily install into most standard four-inch and six-inch recessed housings, making the Cree® CR Series LED downlights ideal for use in both residential and commercial applications.

“You’ll never need to install an outdated incandescent or fluorescent downlight again,” said Rick Helsel, Senior Account Manager, Rexel USA. “We continue to see high-demand for Cree’s original CR6-575 lumen LED downlight, but with the introduction of the CR4 LED downlight and the new high lumen output CR6 downlight, Cree now addresses even more applications, providing a remarkable price-point and meets the needs of our residential and commercial spaces.”

Finally, Cree is also attempting to reach a new performance benchmark with the release of a 170 lumens-per-watt prototype LED light bulb. The high-performance 170 LPW LED bulb enables significantly higher efficacy at a much lower cost. This demonstrates Cree’s continued commitment to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting by addressing the key barriers to widespread LED lighting adoption, initial cost and payback.

“Optimizing each LED design element was critical in achieving the performance reached by Cree’s new prototype LED bulb,” said Nick Medendorp, Vice President of Research and Development for Cree. “The technology embodied in the new 170 LPW concept LED bulb is enabling us to develop higher-performance and lower-cost Cree LED luminaires. By pushing the limits of what is possible, Cree continues to strive to develop new technology that uses less energy and provides unmatched light quality and value to our customers.”

For additional product and company information, please refer to www.CreeLEDLighting.com.

New product of the day—Clif® Bar Seasonal Flavors

Clif® Bar’s highly anticipated seasonal flavors are back for the 10th consecutive holiday season. Throughout the past decade, Clif Bar has helped get athletes into the holiday spirit with limited-edition flavors that bring a distinctive twist to the best-selling energy bar. This year, Clif Bar seasonal flavors include three nostalgic favorites: Iced Gingerbread, Peppermint Stick and Spiced Pumpkin Pie. Reminiscent of home-baked holiday treats, the three seasonal flavors deliver Clif’s athlete-crafted blend of carbohydrates, protein and fiber for sustained energy. “CLIF Bar fans tell us they look forward to the arrival of our limited-edition flavors as they mark the start of the much anticipated winter sports season,” said Carly Lutz, Brand Director at Clif Bar & Company. “The classic holiday flavors evoke memories of their favorite seasonal pastimes and create excitement for upcoming outdoor adventures.” Made with 70 percent organic ingredients, Clif Bars are also free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives and ingredients sourced from GMOs. The limited edition seasonal flavors are now available nationwide.

Clif Bar
800.254.3227
www.clifbar.com

Product of the Day—Burrito Kitchens

Established in 1999, Colorado-based Burrito Kitchens™ is a manufacturer of premium, all-natural frozen burritos, which are sold primarily through major distributors to convenience stores, cafes, restaurants and many other establishments. As convenience stores work towards capturing a greater share of grab-and-go food sales in their communities, consumer demand for healthy alternatives to “roller-cooked” items loaded with artificial preservatives has helped fuel the success of companies like Burrito Kitchens. The all-natural ingredients Burrito Kitchens uses, combined with the consistently good flavor profiles of the company’s burritos grabs the attention of today’s consumers and keeps them coming back for more. As proof of the growing demand for healthier, all-natural grab-and-go items, Burrito Kitchens’ sales have nearly doubled in the last year, while many of the company’s competitors have consolidated or shuttered operations altogether. This fall, Burrito Kitchens is expanding its product portfolio to include baninis, unique, savory, filled breakfast pastries available in four delicious flavors. Visit the company’s website for more information, to make a purchase or to request a sample.

Burrito Kitchens Enterprises
720.652.9000
www.burritokitchens.com

SymphonyIRI Channel Migration Report Finds Consumers Focusing on Value Proposition

As consumers continue to exhibit concern about the economy and their personal financial situations, it is no surprise that they are continuing to shop frugally. In fact, it is not uncommon for consumers to shop as many as seven separate consumer packaged goods channels in pursuit of the best value for their money. A recent report by SymphonyIRI Group reveals a closer look at how consumers’ conservative outlook is making a significant impact on CPG channel trends

According to SymphonyIRI, dollar store penetration has been on an upward trend for several years now, with two out of three Americans shopping this channel during the past year. Increasingly, dollar stores are going head-to-head with other channels for an increased share of routine shopping trips. The most sizeable shift is the shift of heavy drug channel shoppers into the dollar channel. This is not a huge surprise, as the two channels carry many of the same CPG categories, and both are well positioned, geographically, for easy-access, fill-in trips.

Still, according to SymphonyIRI, drug, dollar and club channels each gained ground over the past year, at the expense of the grocery and mass merchandise channels. The grocery channel continued to lose dollar share and now captures just 47.9 percent share of grocery dollars, a decrease of 0.3 percent over last year.

CPG manufacturers and retailers seeking to capture new growth opportunities and minimize risks associated with channel and consumption migration trends must identify new growth opportunities and risks through ongoing category and brand channel migration tracking. Manufacturers should constantly evaluate the evolving competitive set at the channel and retailer level, including traditional brick and mortar and online retailers, to understand channel share shifts across key categories and brands. And retailers should track shifts in trip mix at the market level and across key shopper segments.

Retailers must also align distribution, marketing and merchandising strategies with channel migration patterns. Manufacturers should continue to enhance merchandising and promotional strategies across old and new media platforms to ensure their value proposition is beginning to impact the shopper in the home and is consistent throughout the purchase process. Retailers should ensure assortment and merchandise strategies cater to their most important shoppers’ preferred trip missions and store locations.

Finally, retailers need to protect and grow share among top shoppers. Manufacturers should drive satisfaction, trip frequency and basket size with specially-targeted promotional programs that entice and reward top shopper segments. Retailers must maintain a deep understanding of emerging shopper patterns and competitive threats among key shopper and target segments.

For more information about SymphonyIRI Group and this latest report, visit www.SymphonyIRI.com.

New product of the day—V8® Juice Hint of Lime and Hint of Black Pepper

Campbell Soup Company is expanding its line of V8® 100 percent vegetable juices with the addition of two new varieties: V8 Hint of Lime and V8 Hint of Black Pepper. The first new flavors added since 2003, these new juices offer twists to the classic savory taste of V8, fulfilling people’s growing desire for more bold flavors. “Our fans have told us how passionate they are about the big, bright flavor of V8 100 percent vegetable juice,” said Mike Barkley, Vice President of V8 Beverages. “With new ‘Hint Of’ varieties, we’re giving people even more reasons to love their favorite juice by building on what makes V8 special with accents of black pepper and lime.” Both of the new V8 varieties provide two full servings of vegetables in each 8-ounce glass, just like all V8 100 percent vegetable juices. New V8 Hint of Lime and Hint of Black Pepper are available in grocery and convenience stores for a suggested retail price of $2.99 for a 46-ounce bottle.

Campbell Soup Company
800.257.8443
www.v8juice.com

New product of the day—Amstel Wheat Bier

Amstel Light, leading Dutch imported light beer, recently launched Amstel Wheat Bier, a pure hefeweizen, in select U.S. markets. After launching in draught in seven markets in September 2011, fans of the beer will now be able to find Amstel Wheat on the shelves of their local retailers. Amstel Wheat is a classic, European specialty beer. As a pure hefeweizen, Amstel Wheat gets its smooth and crisp taste naturally through hops with the addition of no additives. Amstel Wheat is deep golden with amber hues and is translucent and cloudy, which stems from its traditional top fermentation and unfiltered brewing method. “We were truly proud to produce this pure hefeweizen, one without additives or flavoring, which makes this beer style stand apart from its Belgian and American counterparts,” said Yonathan Bendesky, Brand Manager for Amstel Light. “This brew is approachable with high level of complexity with different fruit and floral notes from what’s out there now.” Amstel Wheat 12 ounce bottles are available in 6 and 12 packs in select retail locations.

Amstel Light
866.2AM.STEL
www.amstellight.com