Upside’s Post

🚨 High-Value Private Labels: A Growing Threat to Regional & Independent Grocers 🚨 Walmart’s new “bettergoods” private label highlights a shift in grocery retail—private labels are no longer just budget alternatives but high-quality, high-margin products. With 21% of grocery sales now private labels, and chains like Aldi expanding rapidly, independent grocers face increasing competition. For those with limited resources, competing with these well-funded private labels can be challenging. However, strategic item placement, unique product assortments, and dynamic pricing can help bridge the gap. Discover how private labels are reshaping the grocery landscape and what it means for you: https://lnkd.in/dVVPAdkB #RetailTrends #Grocery #PrivateLabels #IndependentGrocers #RetailStrategy #Walmart #Aldi

This shot may has been heard around the world: #privatelabel food products are not just about cheaper alternatives, they are also about better products. #groceryretail across the US and Canada are vastly accelerating product development and expanding they offerings. While retailers go into the offense, brands need to defend their turf. If you need a better sword or a better shield, feel free to reach out to discuss how we can help! Game on! #palm #productlifecycle #foodandbeverage #innovation.

To succeed in an increasingly fragmented, highly competitive business, leading grocers are becoming "multiformat" grocers. H-E-B, which operates a discount, specialty and Hispanic banners, now refers to itself this way. A lot of other retailers are lagging behind, however, having spent a lot of time and money on specialty and "fresh" formats that have gone nowhere. In my latest column, I make the case for grocers focusing on value as they evaluate their alternative formats strategy. Many thanks to Stewart Samuel and Bobby Gibbs for their valuable insights on this one!

🥮 Why challenger food and drink brands MUST understand - At School You can’t Rewrite the Question, but in Business You Can - lessons from Piper Crisps 🥮 Creativity is REWRITING the question. At School You can’t Rewrite the Question, but in Business You Can - Rory Sutherland Most food and drink brands ask the same questions = same results = same brands = same same same same same. “How can we build an omni-channel business across wholesale, grocery and D2C to build a brand?” Instead, just, rewrite the question. What ONE channel is absolutely NO one focusing on? That, if we relentlessly focus on, we’ll win? ” Look at Piper Crisps. Every other crisp brand was needy-AF crawling to the Waitrose in Bracknell drooling over the laminated JBP. Please sir give me a gondola end? Piper played where no one was playing. Piper RELENTLESSLY focused in Speciality and Farm Shops. Then, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s came knocking. As a challenger brand rewrite the question = Rewrite the answer = Escape competition. Every top food and drink founder reads our Newsletter. Come join the party. Subscribe below xx https://lnkd.in/enKUBNTZ

We just finished a study on how US customers are perceiving markdown labels. If you want to learn more about the results follow the link in the comment section. I would be very interested on opinions regarding the European and especially German/Swiss/Austrian retail market. For me it feels we are behind leveraging dynamic pricing when trying to sell products nearing "best before date" or "must throw away date" as still seen by many consumers. I personally as a consumer think a dynamic price on a colored label showing me old and new price plus a % is the way to go for. It gives me all the information I need and rewards me for saving a product which will be wasted otherwise. As a retailer a dynamic price takes into account the individual location, product, time of the day, remaining inventory, and many other factors to make sure besides rewarding the consumer I still stay as profitable as possible in a competitive environment. Still I only see 30 or 50% stickers sometimes. And last it is not just about the % discount, it is about establishing a transparent markdown process allowing to track waste, educate the organisation and identify room for improvement. #markdowns #foodwaste #grocery #operations #sustainability #ESG #labels #retailinnovation

What are the criteria for Private Label goods to really work? 1.       Fascinating article on big retailers trying to mimic Trader Joe’s (TJ), Aldi and (not mentioned) Costco’s Kirkland uber brand. 2.       And, Keychain sounds like an interesting matchmaking platform. 3.       But, what’s missing from the success formula of TJ and Aldi? a.       They don’t have duplicate, name brands next to their private label. This creates redundant inventory investment. b.      They don’t offer an array of SKUs – just two for peanut butter – smooth and chunky. c.       And, the formulas for the SKUs are to be good or better in quality than the #1 brand. d.      Because of fewer SKU’s and 20% lower prices than full-service grocery stores, the volume throughput (turns) is much greater. This creates an entirely better- buying, logistics – system. e.       When stores get replenished far more often then fill-rates can be tuned to very high and excess stock very low. f.         Private label SKUs are only the visible tip of a great business model. 4.       SO; what are (other) reasons that distributors have even more challenges with true, financial success with private label goods?   

Cider makers Thatchers have lost a trade mark dispute against Aldi over rival cider products. Thatchers had objected to the appearance and sale of a cloudy lemon cider by Aldi, claiming that the overall appearance of the Aldi product is highly similar to that of the Thatchers product sold under the registered trade mark. They also claimed that Aldi intentionally set out to cause a link in the minds of consumers between the two products. Our article explores the case and the Court's decision in more detail to understand what lessons brand owners can learn from this judgment. #IPLaw #TradeMarkLaw #TradeMarks https://lnkd.in/eE589wUi

Do National Brands Have a Bigger Private Label Opportunity? A university study concluded that national brands stand to benefit from producing more private labels for grocers, although doing so brings “complex trade-offs” that carry some risks. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eK5XP7XP Jeff Sward "Brands are going to lose market share to private label. Full stop. So a brand might as well be the supplier of that private label." Mark Ryski "Ultimately, national brands want to generate sales and deepen relationships with their retailers. Producing private labels for retailers is a good way to do it." David Spear "The majority of national brands have some degree of involvement with private labels, as the study suggests, which enables them to drive additional revenue streams and build relationship capital with retailers during inflationary periods. I would argue some of the premium private label products are outstanding in quality, price, and impulse attraction, giving national brands a real run for their money."