Pick Now, Pay Later

The busiest shopping day of the year is upon us! The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," kicks off the holiday shopping season with major sales, deals, and steals. This year, stores are opening earlier than ever, with retailers like Best Buy unlocking their doors at midnight to get a jump on holiday transactions. Kohls, Macy's, Sears, and Target are also expected to open at 12 a.m. on Friday.

With holiday sales expected to rise this season to about $450 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, shoppers can count on discounts at stores open morning, noon, and night leading up to Christmas. In addition to extended hours to suit consumers' schedules, retailers are once again offering layaway to allow shoppers to reserve their purchases and make payments leading up to December 25. Here are just some of the holiday offers you can expect to see to make this year's shopping spree a little easier on your wallet:

• Best Buy introduced layaway this holiday season, whether your purchase is for business, home, or school.
  
• Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has brought back layaway for the first time in five years, and is available for items purchased in the toys, electronics, and fine jewelry departments.
  
• Sears will offer free holiday shipping when customers spend at least $99 on its website.
  
• Kmart will offer free holiday shipping when customers spend at least $49 on its website.
  
• Toys "R" Us is offering loyalty program members 10 percent back on purchases from October 30 to Christmas Eve.

Are you planning to take advantage of the return of layaway, as well as this season's best sales? Tell me how you plan to attack holiday spending this year while staying on budget, and happy shopping!

PB...No J

Did you know that November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month? Since last year's tribute to the creamy and crunchy varieties of such brands like Jif and Skippy, much has changed in the PB category.

For starters, peanut butter has been dominating the news for the past few months. This summer's hot and dry weather, combined with farmers planting less peanuts for the upcoming crop, has led to a shortage of the legume. This has pushed peanut butter prices up for both manufacturers and consumers, making peanut butter one of the priciest items at the grocery store and in your pantry.

Despite this news, peanut butter makers have still been hard at work, creating new kinds of peanut butter for PB lovers across the globe. Skippy recently introduced a line of natural products, including Natural Super Chunk, Natural Creamy, and Natural Creamy with Honey. The 100 percent natural spreads contain no artificial colors or flavorings, and need no stirring.

Additionally, Planters, America's leading snack nut brand, added peanut butter to its line-up once again after a 30-year hiatus. The newly unveiled PB also presented a new animated character, Peanut Butter Doug, the dubious and adventurous stunt double of Mr. Peanut.


According to the National Peanut Board, the average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut butter products each year. With peanut butter consumed in 90 percent of U.S. households, Americans combine to eat more than 1.5 billion pounds of peanuty goodness annually, and spend $800 million on peanut butter alone.

How will you love peanut butter this month? Share your favorite peanut butter recipe, craft, or whip up the most creative peanut butter and jelly sandwich you can imagine, and enjoy celebrating National Peanut Butter Lovers Month!

Gluten-Free Goodness

With celiac disease on the rise in the United States, it's no wonder that food manufacturers have shifted the way they make products to accommodate consumers' diets. Many food and beverage CPG companies have created gluten-free items, and supermarkets and retailers have increased their selection in response to this growing trend. Here are just some of the gluten-free goods lining store shelves today.

Both Kellogg's and General Mills offer popular cereals in gluten-free varieties. The companies now produce Rice Krispies and several flavors of Chex, respectively, in gluten-free forms.

Looking for crackers or other snacks that don't contain the wheat, barley, or rye that set off the ailment? Snyder's-Lance, Incorporated, makes a number of products that conform to the celiac diet, including an assortment of chips, popcorn, and pretzel sticks. Frito-Lay also generates dozens of gluten-free munchies for people who suffer from an intolerance to foods containing gluten.

Baking has been made easier as well, with quite a few companies supplying ingredients for amateur and professional bakers alike. King Arthur Flour provides an array of mixes and flours to make everything from breads and brownies to cakes and cookies. With such products, gluten-free bakeries have been popping up around the country, making it easy for sufferers to enjoy muffins, pies, and pastries.

More substantial meals are effortless, too. Heinz offers convenient options for gluten-restricted diets, such as sauces, condiments, and frozen entrees. Additionally, Thai Kitchen has recipes to change up your lunch or dinner while still meeting the needs of a celiac diet.

Those needing to stick to a gluten-free regime, but want to eat more natural foods are in luck. Start your morning out right with everything from waffles to cereal by Nature's Path. Amy's Kitchen even has a plan for customers looking to lose weight or eat healthy while sticking to a gluten-free regimen. Consumers have even more natural and organic options thanks to Annie's. The company's line of gluten-free goods includes crackers, pastas, and salad dressings.

Retailers across the country, such as Trader Joe's, Giant Eagle, and Supervalu stores, are all working toward catering to customers with gluten sensitivity.

Get answers to your questions about gluten-free living from Kraft, and be sure to check out additional resources from the Celiac Disease Foundation.

Are you following a gluten-free diet? Tell me where you shop and which brands you buy to help maintain your lifestyle.

Thanks, Lori, for your inspiration behind this post!

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie

Bigger isn't always better. If you've paid close attention to food and beverage CPG trends during the past few years, you've noticed snacks have gone mini. From 100-calorie packs of cookies and chips to calorie-controlled ice cream cups, food manufacturers are churning out bite-size snacks for consumers to get a taste of their favorite treats without overindulging.

Pillsbury Sweet Moments are some of the newest minis on the market. The European-inspired desserts premiered last summer, launching a new category for the brand – refrigerated desserts. These bite-sized brownies are bursting with smooth caramel or velvety cheesecake, giving sweet-toothed shoppers an opportunity to enjoy a few chocolaty bites without wrecking their diets.

Hostess has been offering smaller portions for quite some time. The company's 100-calorie packs miniaturized cakey childhood favorites, including Chocolate Cupcakes, Strawberry Cupcakes, and Twinkie Bites. In addition, Hostess sells four flavors of Mini Muffins in Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Banana Walnut, and Brownie Bites varieties. These controlled-portion snacks are perfect to pop morning, noon, or night.

When it comes to ice cream, dairy lovers need no longer sit with a spoon and a pint. In recent months, several brands have introduced single-serving cups. Ben & Jerry's, Edy's/Dreyer's, Häagen-Dazs, Skinny Cow, and Starbucks all offer decadently indulgent frozen delights without excess fat and calories.

Even restaurants have jumped on the mini craze. Houlihan's menu includes small plates with items like sliders and frites bars, and mini desserts with items such as reasonably priced ice cream flights. At Orlando-based Seasons 52, mini indulgences featuring high-impact flavors and top quality ingredients boast all of the pleasure and none of the guilt.

At places like Starbucks, you can find the company's new line of petites in the bakery. Cake pops and peanut butter mini cupcakes are just two little pastries on the menu. Walk in Dairy Queen and order any Blizzard, only smaller! Since last summer, the six-ounce Mini Blizzard has provided customers with a taste of their favorite DQ frozen confection.

So, call it what you will – miniature, snack size, or fun size – these smaller portions are helping to satisfy cravings and curb binges, and they're cute to boot! Personally, Mini Nilla Wafers and Mini Fruit-Flavored Marshmallows are choice treats that take me right back to my childhood! What are some of your favorite itty-bitty eats?

Looking into the Crystal Ball

As 2010 comes to a close, it's time to look forward to next year and the food trends that will dominate the headlines. Based on this year's hot topics and current industry conditions, here is what I believe you can expect to see in 2011:

• A resurgence of real sugar. The people have spoken, and high fructose corn syrup (soon to be rebranded as corn sugar) is no longer welcome. Expect to see more food made with real sugar, following in the footsteps of Häagen-Dazs five ice cream, Sierra Mist Natural, and Jones Soda.
  
• Less salt and sugar in your favorite foods. A few weeks ago, food and beverage consumer packaged goods companies including Butterball, Heinz, Hostess, and Snyder's of Hanover agreed to use less salt in some products as part of a national campaign against high blood pressure. The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to reduce Americans' salt intake by 20 percent over the next five years. Just this week, General Mills announced that it successfully reduced sugar in cereals advertised to children by an additional 8 percent on average this year. Expect more food manufacturers to lessen the amount of salt and sugar in products in the coming year.
  
• More whole grains. Store shelves are now lined with items containing whole grains. Chef Boyardee canned pastas, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Lean Pockets, Fig Newtons, and SunChips all boast whole grain goodness. With consumers demanding healthier products for themselves and their families, whole grains are here to stay. Anticipate more variety at grocery stores in 2011.
  
• Portion control. 100 calorie packs have been popular in the past few years. Everything from chips and cookies to ice cream and soda come in smaller packages for better portion control. This year, DiGiorno debuted 200 calorie portion frozen meals and Pillsbury introduced Sweet Moments, individually packaged desserts for one. Healthy eating will remain a top priority for shoppers next year, so count on more companies to launch snack-sized portions of your favorite foods.
  
• A shake-up in the Fortune 500. This year, sales at J.M. Smucker will top $4.6 billion, with profits increasing to $494 million. With well-known brands such as Jif, Crisco, and Folger's all doing well in 2010, Smucker's is poised to enter the Fortune 500 list after sitting at number 540 this year. In addition, PepsiCo is bound to increase its rank on the Fortune 500 after completing its acquisition of Pepsi Bottling Group earlier this year.

What do you think will happen within the food and beverage CPG industry next year? Deeper focus on better foods in schools? Improved sustainability practices? Manufacturers making a stronger attempt to buy local foods for the products they produce? Look into your crystal ball and leave a message to let me know your predictions for 2011.

Ingredients Take a Vacation

This week, I noticed a theme as I was out and about running errands. As I walked the aisles of the grocery store and visited a fast food joint, I spotted signs here, there, and everywhere informing me of food shortages. While there is no need to panic...yet, I was completely unaware of the lack of some products in today's marketplace.

In the baking aisle of my local supermarket, an entire section sat empty. To my surprise, I learned that canned pumpkin is in short supply. Those seeking pureed pumpkin need to look elsewhere; last year's rain and cold temperatures depleted the crop and a busy Thanksgiving season took what was left of the product already on store shelves. Libby's, a Nestlé USA brand and one of the largest pumpkin canners, offers a complete explanation on their website, along with recipes for tasty alternatives until August when the 2010 harvest begins.

Desserts aren't the only course in jeopardy. Mornings have been a lot tougher in households across the country as consumers lament the shortage of Eggo waffles. Last year's heavy rains in Atlanta flooded a Kellogg-owned bakery, temporarily shutting down production. To make matters worse, equipment at Kellogg's largest waffle plant in Rossville, Tennessee, is undergoing substantial renovations. The company anticipates replenishing its stock by mid-year. Be the first to know when Eggos will be back in your grocer's freezer by signing up for e-mail updates from Kellogg's.

After leaving the supermarket, I stopped by Wendy's to grab a quick bite. There, I was greeted with a sign stating that tomatoes are only available by request. Customers with a penchant for the fruit need to ask for a slice. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is again to blame for this shortage. A January freeze in Florida killed more than 80 percent of the state's tomatoes and drove up prices for the remaining crops, but never fear! The spring harvest was unaffected and tomato production and distribution is expected to continue without a hitch during the coming weeks.

Have these shortages impacted your life? I'd also like to hear about other product scarcities you've observed. Leave a message and tell me what you know!

New Today, Trendy Tomorrow

Earlier this week, Symphony IRI Group, a company which tracks retail information and analyzes consumer and shopper trends, presented a Webinar detailing the 2009 New Product Pacesetters, the most successful new food and beverage brands based on the product's first year of sales. While 2010 is still far from finished, I'm already thinking about what the 2010 Product Pacesetters list will bring. Here are some new creations that I've seen lining supermarket shelves.

Chocolate Cheerios: Cheerios in chocolate form! A Facebook fan page (not sponsored by the cereal's maker General Mills) welcomes almost 2,200 supporters, as enthusiasts declare they cannot live without this tasty new breakfast food.

Coconut M&Ms: These colorful chocolate candies with a hint of coconut are now available at drug stores across the country and have me dreaming of tropical beaches. If you're interested in trying them, you need to hurry, as the Mars candy company is offering them for a limited time only.

Hershey's Pieces: I imagine everyone is familiar with peanut butter Reese's Pieces, but Hershey's took the Pieces idea one step further and introduced crunchy shelled Almond Joy Pieces, Hershey's Special Dark Pieces, and York Pieces.

McCormick Recipe Inspirations: These packets include the six spices you need to create a delicious meal – no measuring spoons necessary! Choose from apple and sage pork chops, garlic lime fajitas, quesadilla casserole, rosemary roasted chicken with potatoes, shrimp and pasta primavera, or Spanish chicken skillet. Each package contains just the right amount of herbs and spices, a recipe card, and lists all the ingredients you need to make a fresh, flavorful dish.

Mountain DEWmocracy: Again this year, Mountain Dew is offering three unique flavor choices and giving consumers an opportunity to vote for their favorite taste sensation. The options for 2010 include Mountain Dew Typhoon, a tropical strawberry-pineapple concoction, Mountain Dew Distortion, which boasts a bold lime zest, and Mountain Dew White Out with a smooth citrus tang. Try all three and cast your ballot online before voting ends June 14.

Pop-Tarts Popsters: These pouches of baked, crispy bites are only 100-calories and come in chocolate blitz and strawberry blast flavors. Another limited edition snack, though, you'll have to act fast; these snacks have only a matter of days left on the market.

Special K Fruit Crisps: Available in both strawberry and blueberry, each 100-calorie pack contains two bars drizzled in vanilla icing. With only two grams of fat, these crisps seem like a nutritious snack or quick breakfast treat.

Of course, these are just a few of the many food concepts that have hit the market so far in 2010. What new products have you seen? Leave me a message and tell me about your favorite new food or beverage item.

Going Retro

Have you noticed a trend in the CPG industry lately of what’s old is new again? At a drug store a few weeks ago, I noticed a display for some new Wonka chocolate bars. Normally, I can’t pass up chocolate anyway, but these particular treats contained an added bonus – a chance to find a Golden Ticket! Unlike the movie, the grand prize does not include the possibility of meeting Willy Wonka himself, but does offer other fantastic, and perhaps more relevant, rewards.

This is not the only product I have seen take a step back in time. Recently, General Mills released new retro packaging for several of its cereals: Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Trix. The retro boxes, which send me back to the days of Saturday morning cartoons, are available solely at Target for a limited time.

Vintage packaging, however, isn’t only in the cereal aisle. Last summer, PepsiCo distributed Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback. The soda is made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup and the cans and cases are decked out with classic logos. The company sold the products for a limited time, but due to its popularity and demand, brought back the Throwback products from December through February.

Based on my knowledge of the CPG industry and the current economic climate, I believe that the timing on these items could not be better. The recession has people longing for the better days of the past. The nostalgic component that these products bring to the table provides comfort during these hard times. The simplistic packaging also helps products stand out on busy grocery shelves; minimalistic package design draws the attention of weary eyed consumers.

Have you seen other flashback campaigns? I’d like to hear about them. Comment and tell me!