March 2013

Collaboration can be essential to success yet seemingly so hard to accomplish in the ever-changing, highly competitive world of grocery retailing today.

Throughout the United States and the world, we are experiencing a zenith of public policy activity that has far-reaching consequences for the consumer packaged goods industry and our billions of consumers around the globe.

Economic pressures resulted in major retailers revising their strategic plans in 2012, with several chains announcing decisions to sell underperforming banners.

Two seemingly disparate employment trends converged in 2012, spurring companies to actively recruit skilled labor and workers with management potential while asking their employees to do more with less.

From the retailer's perspective, today's price-sensitive shoppers want it all.

As recession, austerity measures and inflation played havoc with household budgets throughout much of Europe in 2012, individual grocery chains tried various strategies to promote sales and maintain profits.

Retailers in 2012 relied on new technologies to grab consumers' attention, drive their purchase decisions and improve supply-chain logistics.

What's your biggest challenge? Grocery retailers faced a constant barrage of problems in 2012, from managing recalls to increasing profit. Retail Leader selected four of the most common pain points and asked experts for their advice on how to solve them.

This issue presents a look back at 2012 and analyzes the most important developments in the food industry.