March/April 2016

While they might not dominate assortment or function as primary sales drivers at most retailers, better-for-you (BFY) foods and beverages, including natural, organic, low-in and free-from products, do play an important strategic role for many retailers, according to results from the latest exclusiv

"Bottom line, there remains much work to be done to educate our customers and eradicate consumer confusion and concern about GMOs."

The challenge is that they are still in the early stages of testing–much less fully understanding–the impact of digital engagement via the myriad solutions and devices now on the market.

Clearly defining these new roles and others like them takes time, however. Companies often need to work though the challenges related to assignment of responsibilities and reporting hierarchies, for example.

Successful food retailers share common attributes: we're meticulous, we're methodical, we appreciate food and business trends, we respect community, we're competitive and we love our customers.

If — in cartoon fashion — we could read the thought bubbles above the head of each food shopper capturing their internal dialogue as they walk the supermarket aisles, we would know that their minds are a whirlwind of activity.