Progressive Grocer - April 2010 - (Page 86)

Grocery Something Big The enduring trend toward healthier foods at reasonable prices is inspiring retailers to rethink the breakfast foods aisle. By Bridget Goldschmidt The Start of reakfast has come full circle. Once touted as the most important meal of the day, it’s been all but ignored by an ever-increasing contingent of consumers who can’t spare more than a few minutes to fuel up first thing in the morning. As health-and-wellness concerns restore breakfast to prominence, however, grocers of all stripes are helping shoppers make the most — nutritionally as well as in terms of value — of this underappreciated meal occasion. “Breakfast remains the meal … most people pay less attention to or skip altogether,” notes Pedro Mesa, store manager of a Coral Gables, Fla., Sedano’s store. “One of the biggest changes that we have noticed in the past few years is more concern for healthier items .... [S]hoppers don’t mind paying a little more, knowing they’re getting a healthier product.” Even when shoppers are willing to pay a slightly higher price, value is still a key part of the equation. “Our Market Street guests are looking for foods that are healthy, convenient and budget-friendly,” says Alicia M. Brown, health and wellness marketing manager at the six-store upscale banner of Lubbock, Texas-based United Supermarkets. “In our Dallas-Fort Worth market, our guests are always ahead of the curve with health trends, foods and products, but they’re very busy and More ONLINE B tors heavily in Sedano’s breakfast food offerings. “[W]e always maintain some type of breakfast items in our weekly ad,” says Mesa. “We also have ... private label bread and milk, which we keep at an everyday low price.” The shift toward healthier items appears to be a permanent one, according to both grocers. “We’ve seen an increase in promo- For additional information on breakfast foods, visit www.progressivegrocer.com/breakfastfoods. 86 • Progressive Grocer • April 2010 need something they can grab and go in the morning without bruising the wallet.” To help shoppers in this regard, the banner recently implemented the NuVal nutrition-scoring system, which they can apply to breakfast and other foods. “[NuVal] enables our guests to make educated, healthy decisions quickly, and easily compare According to Market Street’s Alicia M. Brown, the banner’s center store nutritional quality with price offers a range of specialty, natural and organic breakfast foods. value,” according to Brown. At Hialeah, Fla.-based Sedano’s, which tions that focus on the importance and benoperates 34 Hispanic-oriented stores in the efits of a nutritional breakfast,” says Mesa. Sunshine State, “the biggest splash [among “We also believe more of the organic items breakfast items] has come from the recently will continue to become more popular.” introduced thin-sliced bagels” in various “I anticipate cereals will begin to decrease brands and varieties, including whole grain, not only their sugar, but sodium content as observes Mesa. “Hot Pockets does a great job well,” notes Market Street’s Brown. “I also at bringing out new varieties of their breakfast think we will see more foods being fortified. line ... Kids love them and mothers, too, for The two key functional statements in the their convenience and healthiness.” breakfast foods category will be about lowerIn common with Market Street, value fac- ing inflammation and boosting immunity.” ■ A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com/breakfastfoods http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - April 2010

Progressive Grocer - April 2010
Table of Contents
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Baby Needs/Baby Powder
The Lempert Report: Ways to Improve the Nutrition Facts Panel
Best Practices: The Employee Satisfaction, Productivity and Profit Connection
State of the Industry Report: Looking Up, Cautiously
Store of the Month: Standing Ovation
GMA President’s Note: Tackling Obesity: A New Blueprint for Success
Natural Meat: Where Was the Beef?
Produce: Swinging Springtime Sales
Beverage Alcohol: The Case for Beer
Breakfast Foods: The Start of Something Big
Dairy: Probiotics in Dairy and Frozen: A Healthy Pursuit
Baby Care: The Dry Season
Pet Care and Supplies: Where the Margin Is
Case Study: King of the Jungle
Tech Toolbox: A Look at the Latest Solutions
Foodservice: No Strain, No Pain
Sustainability: Green Energy is Blooming
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - April 2010