The large retailers seem to be getting bigger and the small guys are getting smarter, it is the guys stuck in the middle that are having problems. This is true in all retail activities, but is especially relevant in the food sector.

Over the last few years we have seen a food revolution take place in the market place. Farmers markets have come into their own and the vegetable category is one of the strongest in the garden centre. This leads me to Will Allen, a low income guy in Milwaukee. Some of you may know this name as he is one of the 100 most influential people in the world according to the Time Magazine May 2010. He is in the same group as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Lady Gaga (I did not make this list up).

Will is the founder of “Green for All” and the instigator of the movement for urban farms in Milwaukee. This is a movement that is spreading amongst low income communities across the USA, but a movement you will become global and will be an influence in the overall perishable retail economy. (more…)

New Zealand shoppers are just emerging from one of the worst recessions they have ever experienced. Although they are recovering from the recession they are still reluctant to spend as shown in a recent Westpac bank survey. One interesting piece of research was published in the April 23rd edition of New Zealand Herald newspaper.

Beck Vass reported on the MasterCard consumer survey which covers 13 countries:

• 55% of those surveyed said that they preferred part of a product price to be donated to a charity rather than be discounted
• Women are more inclined than men to purchase on environmental and social considerations
• 44% of shoppers shop for advertised socially responsible products

New Zealanders were shown to be more socially responsible than Australians.

Bread is a key product in the food retail sector. But, some readers may not realize how key it can be.

In Australia, 80% of food sales go to two retailers, Coles and Woolworths, this is one of the biggest duoplogies in the world. But, when it comes to bread, independent bakeries are fighting back.

The Australian bread retail sector is made up as follows:

• 60% Woolworths and Coles
• 13.7% Bakers Delight from 623 stores
• 26.3% Independent bakers and other supermarkets (more…)

Male Shopping Environment is now a Woman’s Shopping Haven.

Men have been trophy shopping for generations. Historically luxury shopping precincts around the world have been located around business districts as they discovered that affluent businessmen purchased gifts for their wives, mistresses and girlfriends.

At the recent World Retail Congress in Berlin, one of the speakers was Concetta Lanciaux (former head of strategy for Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey (LVMH)) she quoted “luxury retail used to be about a trophy for the trophy” (men, shopping for women) she then went on to explain that luxury goods are now driven by women, with 80% of sales coming from locals and 20% from tourists. Sales in 2009 clearly show a change in shopping habits. Luis Vuitton sales up 18%, Tiffany up 26%, Bulgari up 27% and Hermes up 35%. Not a bad increase in sales in a recession.

Luxury retailers are now looking to airports, as well as key city centres for their locations. Retailing is a constantly changing scenario.

Ref: This information comes from Peter James Ryan in an article entitled A Luxe for Life” in the April Qantas airline magazine.