Appeals court upholds country-of-origin meat-labeling rules
A U.S. appeals court has upheld the country-of-origin labeling regulations that require retailers to list where and when animals were born, raised and slaughtered. The regulations also ban the mixing of muscle cuts from other countries in retail packages. The…
The evolution of America’s snacking habits
Consumers are choosing healthier snacks as almost 50% of the food and beverages consumed are treated as snacks and 80% of those snacks are consumed at home, according to a report by The Hartman Group. Since snacking has become so…
Marketing tactics that spur consumers to spread the word
Emotional appeal and a sense of exclusivity are among the factors that give marketing the boost it needs to generate word-of-mouth, Dave Clarke writes. Marketers can also use giveaways, such as branded T-shirts, and triggers embedded in ads, such as…
Report: Food prices to rise faster in 2014, led by beef
Food prices across the board are on track to rise faster this year, and conditions such as California's drought could send inflation even higher, the Agriculture Department said Tuesday. For restaurant owners like Jamie McDonald, who used $70,000 in competitive…
This scholarship isn’t for students — it’s for retail employees
For the second year, the NRF Foundation is partnering with the University of Phoenix to offer Dream BIG scholarships. What does that mean? Anyone who works in retail -- at any level or position -- can apply for the full-tuition…
Restaurant brands tread carefully when expanding into retail
When Red Robin Gourmet Burgers decided to make its Seasoned Steak Fries available in the supermarket frozen food case, the process was more complicated than it might seem. For Red Robin and a growing number of other restaurant brands that…
Retailers tap multichannel options to retain customers
Brick-and-mortar retailers are fighting showrooming with more buying options for customers through multiple channels, a strategy marketers describe as "call, click or come over." Home Depot, Kohl's and Anthropologie are among the brands trying to get a leg up on…
CVS offers ScripTalk prescription label for visually impaired customers
CVS Caremark now offers talking prescription labels for blind or visually impaired customers through a technology called ScripTalk. The prescriptions are available for home delivery through the company's online pharmacy. "Enhancing access to important information about prescriptions is in keeping…
Shoppers purchase more healthy foods when offered discounts
Low-income shoppers purchase an average of 10 more servings of fruit and vegetables per week when given discounts on those items, but they return to less-healthy buying habits when the financial incentive is removed, found a study by the Einstein…