SymphonyIRI works with more than 19,000 retailers by the end of 2012. SymphonyIRI builds its market position in convenience stores through recent retailer agreements, such as BP and Murphy Oil, which will provide data to more than 19,000 sample stores by the end of 2012. SymphonyIRI AllScan Convenience Store Tracking Service already serves more than…
Bursting With Energy
The energy shots and drinks market has been on an upward growth trajectory since 2010 and with the improvement in the economy is expected to continue on this growth. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor Americans need all the energy they can get their hands on, which goes a long way to explaining the enduring success…
SymphonyIRI Says Shopper Marketing Is Critical To Retailers
SymphonyIRI reports that “shopper-centric” retailers perform stronger than those focused more on the products. SymphonyIRI Group released its latest Times & Trends report, “Shopper Marketing: Every Decision Begins & Ends with the Shopper” for c-store owners to consider. Amazing products, strong advertising and outstanding stores are useless without shoppers. The shoppers in today’s market demand…
Gum Gets a Fresh Start
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. After years of tremendous growth, gum sales have struggled as new products and line extensions crowd the category. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Innovation is a great thing, especially in the fickle gum category. But Danna Huskey, category manager for Texarkana, Texas-based E-Z Mart stores…
Sweet Outlook for Candy and Confections
Despite the continued economic doldrums, U.S. confectionery sales have grown at a pace of 4.2% annually and generate $29 billion in total sales, according to SymphonyIRI, a Chicago-based research firm. Jenn Elleck, of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), said the biggest misconception about selling candy is that candy sells itself. “Retailers don’t think they need…
Building Bottled Water Sales
New products and core beverages will always drive cold vault sales. Retailers have to know how to market them effectively to maximize profitability. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Bottled water sales continue to rise steadily, which is good news for overall packaged beverage sales in convenience stores. NACS reported recently that in the wake of…
SymphonyIRI Examines Consumer Gas Price Woes
Shoppers battered by the recession are much less willing to absorb high gas prices and increasing store prices. Just as the CPG industry was beginning to show signs of growth, a new hurdle emerged: rising gas prices. With national gas prices 40% higher on average today than a year ago, many shoppers are having difficulty…
Shopper Optimism Slowly Increasing
“Some shoppers are retaining their frugal ways, others are spending more freely across the board and others still are spending more on some types of products, but remaining tight fisted about others,” notes SymphonyIRI CEO. SymphonyIRI has launched its Quarterly MarketPulse Survey Series, which offers consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail and healthcare companies a comprehensive…