Private Label Food and Beverages in the U.S.

At one time, private-label products accounted for a small share of the overall food and beverage market. But today, many retailers are claiming penetration rates of 25% or more of total sales.

Private Label Food & Beverage in The U.S. analyzes the U.S. market for foods and beverages sold under the proprietary labels of retailers, referred to in the trade as private-label or store-brand products.

The primary focus is on the mass-market products sold through supermarkets, big box, warehouse clubs, and mass merchandisers, but the report also examines trends affecting other food and beverage retailers, including convenience stores, drugstores, health and natural food stores. Included are estimates of total dollar sales, unit sales and average prices per unit for the 2005-2009 period along with forecasts for growth through 2014.

Competitor profiles include:

• Aldi
• Costco
• Delhaize
• Kroger
• Safeway
• Target
• Trader Joe's
• Wal-Mart
• Whole Foods

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Food Gifting in the U.S.

"The U.S. market for food gifting continues to expand in sales and product offerings, and is one of the few areas of gifting that is doing so in the current challenged economy." - Don Montuori, Publisher, Packaged Facts

As the economy slowly recovers from the recession depths of 2008 and 2009, marketers and market researchers differed sharply over whether the price-conscious consumer who dominated the marketplace during the Great Recession would prove to be a temporary aberration or a permanent fixture in the American economy. New Research:The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in the LGBT Community, 6th Edition The expansion of same-sex marriage and other forms of civil unions over the past decade is triggering an increase in the visible numbers of gay and lesbian family households and consequently an expanding market space for consumer goods and services of all kinds. Survey research shows that gay and lesbian consumers are more optimistic than other consumers about the economy and personal finances, indicating that gay and lesbian consumers are more likely to amp up discretionary spending on products and services in the wake of the recession. This completely new 6th edition of Packaged Facts Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S. provides marketers with the analysis and insights they need to help them succeed in a consumer segment whose buying power is fast approaching $800 billion. More Information: Info   |   Table of Contents  The Post-Recession Consumer in the U.S. This Packaged Facts report sifts through five years of data to follow the twists and turns in consumer confidence before, during and in the immediate aftermath of the most severe economic downturn in 70 years. The report contrasts the attitudes and behavior of consumers on the highest end of the Consumer Confidence Index of the Experian Simmons NCS (“Confident Consumers”) with those on the lowest end (“Anxious Consumers”). By doing so, it sheds light on the conflicted mindset of consumers as the recession loses its grip and suggests how marketers might respond to their customers in an uncertain post-recession economic environment. The Post-Recession Consumer in the U.S. provides in-depth insights into trends affecting the post-recession environment in key areas such as price sensitivity and use of premium brands and highlights key opportunities in the post-recession consumer market. Subsequent chapters offer an in-depth view of how Confident and Anxious Consumers shop in supermarkets and drugstores and how they behave when shopping for the home also included is data on how they spend leisure time and their behavior in the fashion and automotive sectors. More information: Info   |   Table of Contents The African-American Market in the U.S., 8th Edition With a population of 40 million and buying power approaching $1 trillion in 2010, African Americans are a key segment in an American economy that increasingly depends upon the needs and preferences of multicultural consumers. Packaged Facts' new market study, The African-American Market in the U.S., 8th Edition, analyzes the forces shaping the purchase decisions of African-American shoppers and sheds light on key areas such as how black consumers decide where to shop and what influences them while they are shopping. Special Features Include: Assessment of the trends shaping the African-American market with an emphasis on opportunities available to marketers. Financial forecast of buying power held by African Americans through 2014 and detailed demographic profiles of the African-American population. In-depth examination of attitudes and behavior of African-American shoppers as it applies to food, clothes, drug-store items and home electronics and furnishings. Unique perspective on the shopping behavior of affluent African Americans consumers. More information: Info   |   Table of Contents

Chocolate beats the recession with US sales expected to top $19bn

Foodnavigatorusa.com
by Mike Stones, 27-Aug-2010

Chocolate products are smashing through the recessionary gloom in the US with sales expected to top $19bn within four years, according to the latest report from research group Packaged Facts.


Its report, Chocolate Market in the US: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products, predicts that sales will rise by an average of 3 percent each year until 2014 when sales will exceed $19bn, up 10.4 percent from sales of $17.3bn achieved last year.

The report attributes last year’s record breaking growth to the 75 percent of Americans who have bought chocolate products since 2008.

Affordable indulgence

Another driver was rises in manufacturers’ prices which were tolerated by consumers who regard chocolate as an affordable indulgence. “When times get tough and household budgets turn frugal, spending a few dollars on a good bar of chocolate becomes a terrific way to leverage a piece of indulgence,” states the report’s Executive Summary.

Rising global demand for chocolate is said to reflect its versatility with uses in a range of sectors from confectionery, beverage and restaurant to hospitality and personal care.

A leading growth trend is identified as the demand for premium chocolate; particularly as the economy recovers.

The other high performing market segment is expected to be the healthy chocolate trend, featuring “better-for-you” ingredients such as lavender and blueberry.

Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts, highlighted the role of innovation: “For many chocolate-loving Americans, it’s more about the experience than it is about mere consumption. To meet this demand, premium chocolatiers are setting off on culinary adventures, discovering new layers of flavor and textures by experimenting with umami flavors or developing products to match consumers’ moods.”

The US chocolate market is mature but innovation still plays an important role. “It’s a market that isn’t afraid to innovate, whether that means using savory influences such as

bacon and cheese or ethnic flavors such as curry and chipotle,” said Montuori. “This bold creativity effectively provides chocolate products that satisfy diverse consumer palates at reasonable prices.”

Social networks

Another growing trend identified by the report is the potential of online social networks as vehicles of influence comparable to conventional media channels. “Chocolate manufactures must provide this cohort with confectionery products featuring fresh, seasonal and natural ingredients and out-of-this-world flavor combinations, such as those developed by the beverage and restaurant trades,” according to the report.

In addition to market mapping and prediction, the report analyses how major chocolate manufacturers are structuring their new product development and marketing initiatives.

Detailed consumer profiles of key demographics, including analysis by gender, race/ethnicity, and household composition are also provided.

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Food Gifting in the U.S., 2nd Edition

During the first half of 2010, holiday food gift sales increased from the previous year, indicating a promising year of growth in this sector. A rising interest in gourmet, natural/organic and specialty demographic food gifts (food gifts for kids, food gifts for sports fans, ethnic food gifts, etc.) is fueling demand.

Gift-boxed chocolates remain a mainstay of the food gifting market in the United States, with sales totaling $227.4 million in 2008 and $223.3 million in 2009, a 1.8% decrease.

The continuing expansion of the market for food-gifting is remarkable in that it comes at a time when Americans are reducing spending on gifts overall. Food gifting combines practicality (a consumable item and one that does not require an intimate knowledge of the recipient's lifestyle, needs or tastes). Although clothing remains the most popular Christmas holiday gift, it is also the most likely item to be returned.

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Company Background

Packaged Facts is a trusted provider of authoritative consumer market research. For 50 years, Packaged Facts has been a leading publisher of market research in the food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, and demographic sectors. Our comprehensive, timely, quality research and presentation of market intelligence have made Packaged Facts a premier source of market information for top industry decision makers.

Why Packaged Facts?

In-depth research...expert analysis.
Our reports are written by analysts with years of experience as professionals working in the industries that they now cover. This experience combined with our time-intensive research methodology result in authoritative analysis that aids the decision-making processes of our clients. Our reports continue to provide a broad, top-level overview of a market and offer not only the raw data, but focus on interpretation of that data to make it more relevant and usable by our clients.

The right information...at the right time.
From identifying the effects of emerging markets across major industries, to covering the trends in niche markets, our reports are timely. Our editorial team tracks the trends that will shape these markets in the coming months, and years. Packaged Facts provides the expert analysis our clients have come to rely on to make the right strategic decisions, at the right time.

Products you need...with flexibility in pricing and delivery you want.
We offer a variety of products, ranging from the quick-read Market Looks (which offer concise summaries of our full-length studies), to market trend reports that examine niche and emerging markets and opportunities, to in-depth market studies on established consumer products, trends and demographic groups. With the "Buy by the Slice" purchase option, you obtain just the chapters you need from a report. Our online delivery option enables you to purchase, read and use the research you need quickly and efficiently.

Personalized Client Support
Packaged Facts is unrivaled in the level of client support that we provide to our clients. From assistance in identifying the most relevant research, to post-sale question and answer support, our goal is to develop long-term relationships that meet the ongoing needs of our clients.

Don Montuori, Vice President Publishing
Don brings two decades of publishing experience to his role of publishing vice president at MarketResearch.com. For five years he was the publisher of our flagship brand, Packaged Facts, where he expanded the food/beverage and personal care verticals, and developed our industry-leading pet vertical. He now oversees MRDC’s publishing operations, which includes the four syndicated report brands (Packaged Facts, Kalorama Information, SBI and Simba Information) and custom research.

How will our reports help you?If your company is already doing business in the industry, or is considering making the leap, you will find Packaged Facts report invaluable, as it provides a comprehensive package of information and insight not offered in any other single source. You will gain a thorough understanding of the current market, as well as projected markets and trends over the next five years.

Marketing Managers:

• Identify market opportunities
• Develop targeted promotion plans

Research and Development:

• Stay on top of competitor initiatives
• Explore demand for products

Advertising Agencies:

• Understand the product buyer
• Develop messaging that compels consumers to buy

Business Development:

• Understand the dynamics of the market
• Identify possible partnerships

Product Managers:

• Anticipate changes in distribution
• Investigate market rumors

Visit Website: http://www.packagedfacts.com/

Babycare Supplies in the U.S.: Diapers, Bottles, Wipes and Feeding Accessories

Babycare supplies marketers must come up with new products and strategies on a regular basis -- to raise brands above the commodity herd. The fact that the pool of babies tends to hover near 4.0 million, year in, year out, further pressures competition. Yet this market is worth the scramble for share: Valued at $7.0 billion at retail, the market’s six categories (disposable diapers, wipes, bodycare preparations, feeding accessories, play & discovery toys, and pacifiers/teethers) hold rich potential for players with innovative wares and competitive savvy.

This latest edition of a popular Packaged Facts report contains all the information that executives need to form aggressive gameplans for either entering the fray or enhancing their existing positions. Market drivers such as green or natural/organic products, and higher birth rates among ethnic minorities, are examined against the background of the troubled U.S. economy. Sales figures -- both historical and forecasted -- are covered, too, as are IRI brand share data, and Experian Simmons demographic data.

Execs can also compare their battle profiles with those of California Baby, Hain-Celestial, Kimberly-Clark, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Seventh Generation, and others; each of these companies’ stances is discussed in detail. Throughout the report, Packaged Facts’ unique in-depth analysis is featured.

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Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products : Packaged Facts

Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products : Packaged Facts: "The U.S. chocolate market is a mature, differentiated and exacting market, which makes distinguishing yourself a challenge to marketers of chocolate products. Packaged Facts’ new report, The Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products examines the current state of the industry and how the market will evolve over the next five years.
Chocolate marketers today are drawing inspiration from other segments of the food and beverage industry in an effort to boost sales - witness chocolates that feature super fruits, functional ingredients, savory touches and ethnic flavors. And chocolate product trends that worked in the past - single-source cocoa, high cocoa content, for example - may not be effective techniques for driving sales in the future.
Written by veteran chocolate market analyst Curtis Vreeland, The Chocolate Market in the U.S. looks at the myriad factors affecting chocolate retailing and consumption. For example, the report examines:

--What impact has the recession had on this $17.3 billion industry?
--How has product development changed to reflect evolving consumer taste buds and budgets?
--What constitutes “premium” and “gourmet” products in the chocolate market today?
--Have consumers changed their buying habits in the face of economic uncertainty?"

http://www.packagedfacts.com/Chocolate-2505082/

Nutritional Supplements in the U.S., 4th Edition : Packaged Facts

Fears about the recession dampening the nutritional supplement business have not been realized. Indeed, if anything, the market appears to have benefited from the economic uncertainty, since supplements stack up well against expensive prescription medications and possibly preventable medical procedures, especially as healthcare costs continue to soar. Accordingly, consumers are turning to supplements as a more affordable way to stay healthy, and even cash-strapped consumers used to taking supplements have been reluctant to eliminate them from their lifestyle regimens. At the same time, older Americans are significantly more likely to integrate supplements into their daily lives, and as the massive Baby Boomer population ages the supplement industry continues to widen its customer base. With these favorable winds at its back, the market has progressed steadily from 5.5% annual growth in 2007 to 6.5% in 2008 to 7.5% in 2009, bringing U.S. retail sales to $9.4 billion in 2009.

Nutritional Supplements in the U.S., 4th Edition : Packaged Facts

Foodservice Market Insights

Click to View

Finding market data and consumer insight surrounding the foodservice industry has been a challenging goal. But no longer. Packaged Facts is pleased to offer a new series of market research studies on restaurants, institutional foodservice and consumer attitudes and behaviors surrounding dining out. These new reports, supported by proprietary Packaged Facts consumer data and unique market sizing, provide food and beverage professionals an unprecedented look into this large and lucrative market.

View the brochure at: http://www.packagedfacts.com/docs/foodservicebrochure_082010_WEB.pdf

Sandwiches: Culinary Trend Mapping Report

Sandwiches─with their universal appeal, limitless versatility and attractive price-points─are bucking the recession and proving to be the country’s most resilient food category. The sandwich form itself is infinitely variable and delightfully portable: a sandwich can be simple or complex, everyday or gourmet, healthy or indulgent, hot or cold, and even sweet as well as savory. It remains one of the most approachable, friendly and relevant foods across all consumer groups. In short, sandwiches aren’t just an important part of the American diet: they are essential to it.

 

But like most food categories today, this much beloved staple has undergone an exciting 21st-century transformation. Classic sandwiches are getting ingredient upgrades on every level - carrier, fillings and condiments. These upgrades could be from artisan, local or sustainable ingredients, reflecting a chef ’s touch or a regional flavor profile. Creative sandwich makers are also tweaking the form for flavor adventure, adding global touches and bursts of exoticism with new international breads, attention-grabbing fillings, and spicy sauces. Some sandwiches are even solving consumers’ quandaries over healthful eating by offering more nutritious components in appropriate portion sizes, yet still satisfying with layers of mouthwatering flavor.

 

This report examines today’s emerging sandwich trends and offer strategic ideas on how to put new spins on a classic and import creative concepts for new marketing opportunities.

 

Here’s what’s on the menu:

 

• The “Fine Fast” Sandwich Shop: These gourmet sandwich shops feature high-quality, artisan and locally sourced ingredients and a wide range of house-made condiments and toppings. 

• The Asian Sandwich Invasion: Bao (a Taiwanese pork-based sandwich, served on a steamed bun) and banh mi (a Vietnamese sandwich featuring grilled meat or paté served on a French roll) perfectly marry the familiar with sandwich versions new to Americans. 

•  The Reinvented Jewish Deli: Concerns about the dwindling numbers of traditional Jewish delis have led to a new spin on an old favorite that’s more “sustainable, affordable and ethical.”

• Glamorous Grilled Cheese: This nostalgic favorite is being upgraded to appeal to more sophisticated consumer tastes with freshly baked specialty bread, artisan cheese and a multitude of toppings.

• The Great Sandwich Shop Takeover: Some sandwich shop chains are innovating on the sandwich form, offering more healthful options, global flavor profiles and local sourcing of ingredients.

• Pulled Pork Sandwich: This long-standing North Carolina barbecue favorite is getting national attention. While its flavor profile is new to many, it evokes the South and aligns nicely with America’s current devotion to pork.

• Better Burgers: Americans love burgers but are ready for a quality upgrade that still maintains a good value. This means adding various types of exotic toppings, using grass-fed or locally sourced beef, home-made or heartier buns—or all of the above.

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Weight Management Trends in the U.S.

Almost 70% of adults and almost 32% of school-age children and adolescents are either overweight or obese, according to the latest government statistics. And some studies project that if current trends continue, 37% of U.S. adults will be classified as obese by 2013 and 43% by 2018.

With such new and ever-more-alarming statistics about adult and childhood obesity feeding the headlines almost daily;

--What are today’s weight loss regimens and weight maintenance mindsets?

--What roles do calories, portion control, and satiety play, with or without the benefit of weight management programs, fitness club memberships and “active lifestyles”?

--What are the most salient cohorts of weight management consumers, and which combinations of foods and beverages, weight management programs, and diet aids appeal most specifically to them?

--Which media and marketing messages resonate for these cohorts, and in what contexts?

This all-new report from Packaged Facts examines not just who the weight management cohorts are, but the all-important “why’s” behind the choices and purchases they make, and where those choices will take the market through 2015. The report also examines the competitive strategies of key players, new product and ingredient trends, and marketing and advertising positioning, all within the context of the medical, social, economic, and psychographic drivers of consumer behavior.

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Chocolate Food Gifting - An American Staple

During the first half of 2010, holiday food gift sales increased from the previous year, indicating a promising year of growth in this sector. A rising interest in gourmet, natural/organic and specialty demographic food gifts (food gifts for kids, food gifts for sports fans, ethnic food gifts, etc.) is fueling demand.

Gift-boxed chocolates remain a mainstay of the food gifting market in the United States, with sales totaling $227.4 million in 2008 and $223.3 million in 2009, a 1.8% decrease.

The continuing expansion of the market for food-gifting is remarkable in that it comes at a time when Americans are reducing spending on gifts overall. Food gifting combines practicality (a consumable item and one that does not require an intimate knowledge of the recipient's lifestyle, needs or tastes). Although clothing remains the most popular Christmas holiday gift, it is also the most likely item to be returned.

More>

An Excerpt from The Hispanic (Latino) Market in the U.S.A.: Generational View

Household and Family Income Profile More Favorable


Although lagging in per capita income, the larger-than-average size of Hispanic households and families results in a more favorable profile of household and family income. While the per capita income of Hispanics is lower than that of African Americans, Latinos enjoy higher median household and family incomes than blacks. Although non-Hispanic whites have a per capita income that is twice that of Hispanics, their median household income is only 35% higher. [Table 5-10]

There also are fewer disparities in household and family incomes across national segments. For example, the per capita income of Mexicans is 87% of that of the average Hispanic, but the median income of Mexican households is 95% of the average. [Table 5-11]


Marriage Patterns and Family Structure

Mexican families are larger than the average Hispanic family (4.05 vs. 3.85 people). Mexicans are more likely to be married (50% vs. 48%) and are less likely to be divorced or separated (8% vs. 12%).


Education and Employment

The educational attainment of Mexicans is lower than the average for Hispanics. Only 8% have a bachelor’s degree or more, compared to 12% of Hispanics as a whole. Only 14% are employed in management and professional jobs, compared to 17% of Latinos as a whole.


Economic Profile

Per capita income of Mexicans is lower than average ($13,529 vs. $15,190). Mean earnings of full-time, year-round workers also are lower than average. However, Mexicans account for 57% of all Hispanic buying power. [Table 7-2]

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