Summer 2017

Headlines about the demise of physical retail have become common, but the 37,000 people who gathered in Las Vegas in May see things differently.

Retailers are being hit by the awareness that always-on customers, who are price loyal rather than retailer or brand loyal, do price comparisons 24/7. This has prompted a surge of interest from retailers on the topic of dynamic pricing.

Predictions about the future and the influence of technological innovations seem to know no bounds and often sound implausible.

When retailers and suppliers talk about partnership and collaboration the focus tends to be on two areas: merchandising and marketing initiatives that drive sales or operational matters of making sure products are in the right place at the right time.

Produce has been the star of the show for food retailers for a long time. Looking to communicate an image of freshness and quality from the moment shoppers arrive in store, grocers have moved packaged goods away from center stage while positioning produce as the focal point of the store.

The rise of digital media has brought power to the fingertips of today's shopper.

As with much of retail, the private brand industry has undergone a dramatic transformation during the past decade. The recession that began in 2007 spurred demand for store brands, and thanks to satisfaction with product quality demand remained intact as economic conditions improved.

An hour before the May grand opening of a new Sprouts store in Tampa, Fla., dozens of shoppers were lined up in 90-degree heat to try their hand at milking a cow.

How retailers and suppliers think about innovation today has changed dramatically because their survival is at stake.

It is common for retailers to make bold pronouncements about the importance of and demonstrate a commitment to diversity and gender equality.

Today's category managers are inundated with new sources of shopper insights, marketing methods, ways of collaborating and competitive issues. The fundamentals of category management as a business process remain intact as do some persistent challenges related to data management.

Ethnic grocers are playing an increasingly important role for communities as a gathering place that provides a sense of culture and connection.