ALDI USA’s Post

“If national brands can’t improve the quality of their goods, then they need to lower prices to compete.” With US #grocery prices up 26% since 2019, more #consumers are turning to store / private brands. So are retailers. Walmart and Ahold Delhaize USA have each launched major private brand growth initiatives, trying to keep up (catch up?) with the likes of Trader Joe's , and ALDI USA, each of whom derive more than 60% of sales from own-brand goods. https://lnkd.in/ehHZNDM9

Is Aldi crossing the line with their product copies? Recently, dessert brand Pleese accused Aldi of mimicking their frozen cheesecake product, Freezecakes, claiming Aldi used an almost identical name, slogan, and flavors. This isn't the first time Aldi has faced such allegations, having previously settled trademark disputes with Marks & Spencer over caterpillar cakes and gin bottles. Joe Moruzzi, managing director of Pleese, expressed his dismay, stating, "We've worked so hard to bring this product to market and it's really disheartening." He highlighted the challenges small companies face when larger competitors allegedly copy their innovations. What are your thoughts on this case? Do you think Aldi's actions are fair competition, or do you believe they have overstepped? You can read more about the lawsuit here: https://lnkd.in/eA-gpMGv #Trademark #Competition #TrademarkLaw

These ain't your grandma's store brand chips. 👵 The market share for private label products is now over 20%, but more than the volume increase - which is unsurprising in times of inflation - it's the boldness of store brand offerings that impresses me. Apple cinnamon ice cream. Pasta imported from Italy. Bbq brisket chips. 🥱 Store brand is no longer synonymous with boring. Congratulations are definitely in order to the retailers that have listened to their consumers and brought exciting, reasonably priced products to the market. But what does this trend mean for branded products? There are many reasons why I might chose a branded product over a store brand and vice versa. Sometimes I just want something familiar - or that has an ingredient list that's been pre-approved by my wife. Other times an exciting new package or flavor might jump off the shelf, so I'll just give it a whirl. 🛍️ For brands, the private label trend is an opportunity to reassess their relationship with consumers and what their products represent to them. What justifies loyalty and higher prices? #privatelabel #foodandbeverage #consumerinsights

The October edition of ShelfLife is available now... In our cover interview this month, Londis sales director Conor Hayes tells Gillian Hamill how he intends to achieve the Londis brand’s ambitious new strategy by 2026. Elsewhere, Fionnuala Carolan looks at why the government’s proposed bill to overhaul the planning system is a much-needed intervention. We also report on the retail industry’s reaction to Budget 2024. In this month’s store profile, Shauna Bernard sits down with Robert Richardson, owner of Nearby Stores Newtowngore in Co. Leitrim, to delve into the store’s history and recent rebranding to Nearby. Within our Advisor section, Excel Recruitment’s Nikki Murran discusses the advantages of making a career in retail; The HR Suite’s Caroline Reidy advises on how to get the most from end-of-year performance reviews; and despite the short-term allure of promotions, marketing expert Colin Gordon urges marketers not to lose sight of their long-term goals. As always, our category features provide an in-depth look at the brands and innovations generating sales in-store. This month, we highlight Irish brands, no/low alcohol, fuel, cash and carry brands and soups. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ef_BAt64 Our next issue will look at the food and drinks available for the upcoming Christmas period. To include your brands in our #Christmas drinks, #Xmas essentials, home #baking, #biscuits, and #softdrinks reports please get in contact. #nearby S&W Wholesale #londis BWG Foods UC #retail #grocery #convenience #supermarket #forecourt #wholesale #cashandcarry #offlicence #offtrade CSNA (Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association) NOffLA #food #drink #Irishbrands #fuel #Nolo #noalcohol #lowalcohol #sales #marketing #brands #advertising #soup #budget24

The industry news for #privatebrands has been talking of growth for some time but it’s not that often in the mainstream media so interesting to see that the The New York Times analysis that private brands in the USA could be at a ‘tipping point’. Private Brands are no longer just low cost low quality options but brands in their own rights that deliver quality and value. As Scott Patton, VP of national buying for Aldi said: “If the food is not good quality, our reputation is at risk”. It is also about choice and #suppliercollaboration to deliver more options for customers and a way for retailers to differentiate, beyond price. As Casey's explain: “…were trying not to compete with the national brands but rather expand what’s available for customers.” Read the full article here:-

Does your assortment include the latest packaging trends for 2024? It's one of the easiest ways to give your business a refresh. Our expert identified the top 5 packaging trends you need to incorporate right now. #nassaucandy #foodbusiness #foodretail #retail #wholesaler #candyretail #candyshop #candystore #confectionery #packaging

Throwback Thursday - Our first natural foods private brand project In 1991, we had our first meeting with Lex Alexander, the owner of Wellspring Grocery in Durham, NC. Wellspring had just two modest stores but Lex saw an opportunity to create a private brand program focused on bringing the best tasting, high quality, small batch products as exclusives to his store with a package design that told why Lex had personally selected them. We started with an extraordinarily flavorful maple syrup from an organic producer in Vermont. The design strategy using hand lettering and illustration visualizes great maple flavor, and high-quality artisan production and makes it clear to customers that this is exclusive to Wellspring. A year later, Lex sold his two stores to Whole Foods Market and joined their Executive Team as their “Food Guy”, responsible for creating and managing their private brand programs. Lex hired us again and over the next ten years, we created branding and packaging for the Whole Foods premium line and the 356 brand with more than 1100 SKUs in every category in grocery. Today, industry forecasters are looking at 2024 as the year of the grocery price war, with national brands focused on regaining and growing their market share. Retailers stepping up their private-label game with a well-defined store brand strategy and investing in branding development and package design that competes with the national brands have a lot to gain. ✅ Are you buying more store brands these days? and if so why?   #ownbrand #brandingagency #foodandbeverage #organic #groceryindustry #future #foodpackaging #groceryretail  #packagedesign #foodbranding #retail #foodtrends #privatebrand #privatelabel #storebrands #fairwaymarket #wholefoods #earthfare #wellspring #butternutmountainfarm

Bulk is back! With the fear of a pandemic behind us, grocers all across the country are bulking up. The consumer has spoken. And what's not to love? Less packaging, lower costs, freshness, exact portions, lending a small semblance of control to the consumer once again. #Merchandising #HealthyChoices #BulkFoods #Displays #GroceryIndustry #Spices #Healthfood #GroceryBudgeting #Snackfoods

High food prices driving Private Label Revolution. “It’s not lost on retailers that the fastest-growing retailers have the fastest-growing private-label programs,” said Steve Oakland, chief executive officer of TreeHouse Foods 🍞 Consumers love Trader Joe's, ALDI USA and Costco Wholesale’s   Kirkland products so much that they have devoted fan accounts on social media. 🍞 Walmart launched a premium food brand in late April called Bettergoods. 🍞 Ahold Delhaize, owner of Food Lion, Stop & Shop and other chains, announced in May a target to increase the companywide share of private-label sales to 45% by 2028, from about 38% today. During the pandemic CPG companies gained the upper hand since many had more robust supply chains than their private-label competitors....and were able to raise prices without much resistance. More and more consumers have had enough and are buying more private label products with better quality and lower prices. Walter Holbrook April Waits CASEY GOLDEN Dustin Fuhs Jamie Grill-Goodman Daphne Howland https://lnkd.in/gKnkuY5d

Asda Introduces New Premium Own-Brand Asda is seeking to elevate its premium tier offering with the launch of a new own-brand called ‘Exceptional’. The supermarket stated that the new premium range champions taste whilst providing shoppers with the “very best quality” ingredients. It will roll out across multiple categories over the coming months, covering more than 500 products. The first Exceptional products have started landing on shelves, with a premium packaging design based around a green and gold colour palette. The rollout has begun with over 70 core chilled products, with lines including Exceptional Burrata, Exceptional Petit Liverot, Exceptional Chaat Masala Potato Salad, and Exceptional Double Stuffed Halkadiki Olives. Asda noted that it has invested over £170m in several initiatives to improve its own-label range over the last three years, including the launch of the ‘Just Essentials’ offer in 2022, the Asda Bakery refresh in 2023, and the launch of new sub-brands ‘Bistro’ and ‘Bom Bahia’. The retailer has also rolled out more than 4,500 new or improved products during this time, alongside its most recent M&S Taste Match campaign. Asda stated that the launch of the Exceptional range was the next step in its strategy to overhaul its own-label range and offer shoppers “fantastic tasting products at affordable prices”. Sam Dickson, VP Commercial Strategy, Own Brand, at Asda, commented: “At Asda, we’re constantly striving to exceed expectations and inspire customers with the quality and breadth of our ranges and work relentlessly to offer our customers uncompromising value, showcasing that affordable can also mean high quality. “The launch of our new premium brand, Exceptional, marks an exciting time for Asda’s own-brand offering. We’ve developed a range which offers customers something they’ll feel really proud to put on the dinner table – these products ooze quality and celebrate the very best of own brand, with taste at their heart.” Asda already has a premium range called Extra Special, but it did not say whether the Exceptional launch would affect this. NamNews Implications: * Over now to the consumer-shopper to determine whether the price/quality package is equal to branded equivalents… * …or is near enough to ensure repeat purchase. * (Expecting shoppers to compare produce with rival’s own label equivalents may prove to be too big an ask?) #OwnLabel