inStorebuyer - February 2011 - 3

editor’snote
FEB 11 | VOL 7 | ISSUE 1
INSIGHT FOR BUSINESS ON THE RISE

EDITORIAL STAFF
John Unrein | Editor Joanie Spencer | Managing Editor Anna Comstock | Assistant Editor Cayce Richardson | Senior Designer

SALES STAFF
Troy Ashby Associate Publisher/Sales Lily O’Kane Classified Sales Representative

PUBLISHING STAFF
Charles S. Sosland Chairman L. Joshua Sosland Vice-chairman Mark Sabo President & Publishing Director John Sonderegger Publisher Melanie Hepperly Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer Don Keating Audience Development Director Sadowna Conarroe Design Services Manager Steve Piatt Classified Designer Dana Holt Manager of Directories & Databases Carrie Fluegge Director of On-line Advertising & Promotions Jon Hall Director of e-Business Nora Wages Advertising Manager Sharon Alexander Advertising Materials Coordinator Marj Potts Digital Systems Analyst Becky White Manager of Advertising Design Judy Arnone Circulation Manager Alissa Nower Promotions Manager

The Economic Picture
If you’ve been down on the economy, the end is near. Sure, rising commodity prices and the consumer jobless situation remain key obstacles, but there are plenty of indicators that bakery and deli shoppers are back in strong numbers. Check out this month’s cover story for further details. Last year proved the instore bakery and deli business is resilient and open to change. New store formats addressed changing shopper habits: Today’s consumers demand greater convenience and a wider selection of prepared food options from the supermarket. Still, as we look ahead, even more important factors to consider will be value and indulgence. Bakery and deli shoppers expect more value options from their neighborhood grocer, but at the same time, want delicious foods that keep them coming back for more. That’s why it will be so important in 2011 to address both needs: value and indulgence. Remember that ingredient costs are far less a concern than labor costs, so keeping a handle on your labor percentage (under 40% is a good rule of thumb) will be vital to producing flavorful bakery and deli foods that you can offer to shoppers at a strong value. This will be an important year to keep a sharp eye on the prize: Incremental sales and volume growth. You can make it happen by paying close attention to what your customers demand. John Unrein junrein@sosland.com

INSTORE BUYER (ISSN 1554-348x) Volume 7, issue 1 is published 9 times a year, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct and Dec by Sosland Publishing Co., 4800 Main Street, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64112. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canada Distribution) Sales Agreement Number 40015261. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P Box 25542, London, ON, .O. N6C 6B2. Printed in the USA. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to INSTORE BUYER, PO Box 324, Congers, NY 10920-0324. © Sosland Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. INSTORE BUYER assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in items reported. Sosland Publishing Co. is a division of Sosland Companies. Inc.

SUBSCRIBER Services
ADDRESS. TELEPHONE, FAX, E-MAIL Editorial and sales offices are located at 4800 Main St., Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 64112. Phone: (816) 756-1000. The switchboard is open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Our main fax number is 816=756=0494; advertising sales can be reached by fax at 816=756=2618. Our e-mail address is bakingbuyer@sosland.com. This number is available for corresponding with any BB department. SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADDRESS CHANGES InStore Buyer is distributed free of charge to qualified readers with managerial responsibilities in in-store, foodservice, retail, specialty wholesale and distribution businesses. For non-qualified readers, U.S. subscriptions are accepted at $60 per year. Other foreign subscriptions (from outside the territory of the U.S. and its possessions) are accepted at $80 per year. For subscription information or address changes, call the Circulation Department at (816) 756-1000. BACK ISSUES Single copies are $15 and are available from the Circulation Department. Special issue prices vary. REPRINTS, PHOTOCOPY PERMISSION Requests for reprints of articles should be sent to reprints@sosland.com or call (816) 756-1000. InStore Buyer is copyrighted; reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Photocopy permission for academic purposes may be obtained from the editor. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Comments and opinions by our readers are welcome. Please send letters to the editor to our mail address, by fax or e-mail. DIRECTORIES Special directories and buyer’s guides are published annually for the baking, grain and milling industries. For details and prices of these publications, call the Circulation Department at (816) 756-1000.

A FFILIATED P UBLICATIONS
4800 Main Street, Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 64112 Phone: (816) 756-1000 · Fax: (816) 756-0494 E-mail: bakingbuyer@sosland.com

| inStorebuyer | February 2011 | 3 |

inStorebuyer - February 2011

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