By Ellen Schuster, MS
Groceries are the focus this week as some European supermarkets drop some products due to high price increases and one podcast looks at the battle over grocery store shelves.
And in Columbia they are taxing ultra-processed foods – 10% in 2024 and 25% in 2025 https://www.foodpolitics.com/2024/01/26507/ The latest at supermarkets/grocery stores… French supermarket will no longer carry some PepsiCo products due to unacceptable price increases; Italy, Spain and Belgium to follow https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/04/business/carrefour-france-pepsi-rising-prices/index.html. Sprouts continues partnering w/local farmers https://progressivegrocer.com/new-stores-tap-sprouts-farmers-market. FTC likely to respond to the merger of Kroger and Albertsons merger this month https://www.npr.org/2024/01/09/1222754258/ftc-kroger-albertsons-grocery .
Walmart’s in-store poke restaurants https://www.grocerydive.com/news/walmart-expanding-in-store-poke-restaurants/703608/. Smart carts piloted https://www.marketingdive.com/news/instacart-caper-carts-ads-ai-general-mills/703886/. Hy-Vee’s digital displays offer recipes, promotions, cooking demos https://www.grocerydive.com/news/hy-vee-samsung-digital-store-displays-retail-media/696214/. Taco Bell cooking kits @ Walmart let you make their crunchwraps/quesadillas at home…for $6.98!! https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/01/04/taco-bell-food-kits-cook-crunchwraps-quesadillas-at-home/72093933007/ .
Buy directly online from Kroger w/some ovens, ranges https://www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-GE-appliance-oven-shoppable-recipe/702667/. Everyday from 8 to 10 AM Walmart makes their stores easier for the neurodivergent https://thetakeout.com/walmart-expands-sensory-friendly-hours-all-us-locations-1851003876 \ . 16 popular groceries hit by shrinkflation https://www.tastingtable.com/1472633/popular-groceries-hit-by-shrinkflation/. Add skimpflation to how you are getting less for your food dollar https://www.axios.com/2023/12/01/skimpflation-prices-inflation; how to spot skimpflation https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/skimpflation-grocery-shopping-edgar-dworsky-consumer-world/.
The Jan. 15 episode of The Sporkful 39 minutes focuses on the battle over grocery store shelves https://www.sporkful.com/the-hidden-battle-over-grocery-store-shelves/ . Our food options… 1 in 10 U.S. restaurants serve Mexican food https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/11/about-1-in-10-restaurants-in-the-us-serve-mexican-food/ . Did you know Jenny Craig delivers fully prepared meals? https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/jenny-craig-is-now-offering-fully-prepared-meals-delivered-directly-to-consumers-homes-010523.html . Albertsons offers mix & match prepared meal options https://storebrands.com/albertsons-adds-meal-solutions-signature-select-line.
Cheerios Veggie Blends is a new cereal made with fruit purée and fruit powder and contains 1/4 cup fruit and vegetables per serving https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/25236-general-mills-introduces-cheerios-veggie-blends . Impossible Foods to debut hot dogs in 2024 https://www.fooddive.com/news/impossible-foods-innovates-plant-based-franks/701682/ . Meati, mushroom meat to be distributed at select Target stores and Albertsons to follow https://www.fooddive.com/news/meati-foods-at-target-part-plant-based-companys-takeover-strategy/704115/ . Beverage shelves are overflowing with options https://tastecooking.com/weve-hit-peak-beverage/ . Oatly’s 2 new products: zero sugar and fewer ingredients https://www.fooddive.com/news/oatly-launches-new-product-variations-first-time-five-years/704233/.