Elsevier Food International
Volume 9, No. 3 September 2006
EFI Special
In an era when much of the industry is lauding the multi-channel strategy adopted by some of its larger participants – Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour are probably the frontrunners in this regard – it is interesting to note that some of the real growth stories in this year’s ranking include those retailers that predominantly or exclusively focus on a single operating concept.
Retail 100: Wal-Mart still way ahead
Country Profile
Romania is recovering. From difficult political, economical and social times as well as from natural disasters such as the devastating 2005 and 2006 floodings of the Danube. This failed to break the country’s economic recovery which also means promising perspectives for retail development.
Sharing in Romania's retail promises
Food Watch
Organic retailing is at last becoming a success story. Because of greater food awareness among consumers, ‘health’ is becoming a key global trend. Natural food stores are therefore no longer the domain of the happy few, but becoming more and more mainstream.
Organic cash cows – Selling healthy lifestyle
Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman once said: “The social responsibility of business is to increase profits.” This may still be true in the confines of the boardroom. But this kind of “greed-based” thinking that ruled the corporate roost for decades is giving way to a kinder, gentler strategy in the post-Enron world of the 21st century. Where the battle for customers is not only waged on price, format and merchandising, but on a company’s record of good citizenship and social responsibility.
Food Buying
The official launch of Coopernic in February 2006 has initiated a period of renewed focus on international grocery buying groups. This is unsurprising since buying groups are now, potentially at least, among some of the most powerful participants in the grocery market.
Coopernic, combining buying power
Real Estate
Using nanoscale particle blocks to design the food of tomorrow may greatly change the way in which food is processed and packaged. Imagine sitting down for breakfast to enjoy a buffet of designer food that not only delivers unique nutrients but also excites taste buds and our feel for textures. With the introduction of the first nano-applications such as anti-wrinkle cream and dirtrepellent sprays, will nano-foods soon follow? Or will detractors be proven right that nanotechnology faces rejection by a public already wary of genetically modified food?
Investors betting on Germany's regained self-confidence
Instore
A shift from ambient to chilled foodstuffs and an increasingly sophisticated range of both fresh and frozen convenience products have caused a boost in refrigerated floor space in supermarkets worldwide. Also food safety issues and quality thinking drive the need and demand for refrigerated shelf space. For full-service supermarkets chilled products have become a key strategic discriminator. But also discount formulas such as Aldi are extending their fresh food departments in order to remain competitive. ‘Fresh’ and to a lesser extent ‘frozen’ have become retail formula brand builders that must be kept in shape.
Ready for the green refrigeration revolution?
Fresh Foods
Since 1998, egg consumption in many countries has been increasing at a slower pace than the four per cent gains witnessed during the mid-1980s. A decrease in egg consumption by developed countries has contributed to the general slower year-on-year increase. Egg consumption is also subject to different types of food scare, such as salmonella and, recently, the avian flu, which poses a threat to the free-range egg industry.
Retail Profile
After eight decades of building what is the single largest community of independent grocers in the world, IGA is positioning itself – and its grocers – for the future.
IGA: Expanding the global family
ECR
Use of RFID tags continues to increase as retailers and manufacturers discover its value in the supply chain but item level tagging is still a long way off.
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