New Orleans to Host Iddba's ‘Show of Shows'

This year’s Dairy-Deli-Bake, the “Show of Shows” from the Madison, Wis.-based International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA), will be held in New Orleans - home to legendary music and food. Slated for June 1 through June 3, Dairy-Deli-Bake 2008 promises a content-packed seminar program that features presentations by Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, John Cleese, Malcolm Gladwell, Lou Holtz, Tony Snow and other exciting speakers.

The theme for this year’s show is “Super Mardi Gras,” IDDBA said. “Foodies” from all over the world not only will get to celebrate the rebirth of New Orleans, but also will have the opportunity to “taste-drive” numerous new products across the dairy, deli and bakery categories within the 1,500-plus booth IDDBA expo.

In addition, Dairy-Deli-Bake 2008 will showcase world-class merchandising ideas and demonstrations that serve up actionable ideas, IDDBA said. The event will provide information that industry professionals - from supermarket and foodservice executives to dairy, deli and bakery managers and more - need to keep current on trends and issues.

Admission to IDDBA’s Show & Sell Merchandising Pavilion is free with conference registration, the association said. The pavilion will feature strong visuals from hundreds of creative merchandising displays, planned themes, a take-home Resource Book and handouts that deliver a visual blueprint for creating strong, customer-oriented displays. Meanwhile, IDDBA’s 13th Annual Cake Decorating Challenge will allow decorators to compete in three areas: production cakes, theme cakes and wedding cakes.

Also on the show schedule is the Super Wisconsin Cheese Party sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. This “Big Cheezy” party will treat attendees to “southern-style hospitality and down home cookin’ N’Awlins-style,” IDDBA said, “with a whole lot of shakin’ and Wisconsin Cheese going on.”

Wal-Mart Canada Launches Green Cleaners

Excitement is brewing just north of the border following Wal-Mart Canada’s launch of its Great Value GreenLine of environmentally preferred cleaning products.

Manufactured by Mississauga, Ontario-based Oxi Brite, the products are non-toxic, biodegradable, performance-tested and certified by EcoLogo of Ottawa.

“The line has been in development for nearly two years, and we’re excited about its introduction into the marketplace,” said David Stone, director of sales and marketing for Oxi Brite Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, in an interview with PL Buyer.

The line - launched in early April - consists of 3X laundry detergent, 3X fabric softener, all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, window cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner, with more SKUs to be added in the coming months.

On With the Show!

Food Marketing Institute’s FMI Show plus MARKETECHNICS
May 4-7
Las Vegas
www.fmi.org

The National Association of Convenience Stores’ NACStech
May 5-7
Grapevine, Texas
www.nacsonline.com

Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors’ 2008 National Grocery Conference
May 24-26
Victoria, British Columbia
www.ccgd.ca

PLMA International World of Private Label Trade Show
May 27-28
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
www.plmainternational.com

East Pack
June 3-5
New York
www.eastpackshow.com

Expo Pack Mexico
June 24-28
Mexico City
www.pmmi.org

Natural Products Association Natural MarketPlace 2008
July 17-19
Las Vegas
www.naturalproductassoc.org

PL Buyer Poll Results:

What the industry had to say about partnerships.

PL Buyer readers are invited to participate in weekly polls through the PL Buyer Web site and our weekly eReport. In the poll published on February 19, we made mention of a study released by Retail Systems Research (RSR) of Miami - “PLM Squared: Product Lifecycle Management Powers Private Label.” The report highlights how retailers are handling the increase in speed to market these days.

The RSR survey found that the average time to market has decreased sharply (47 percent of surveyed retailers said time to volume is typically six to 12 months). Meanwhile, the percentage of merchandise designed in collaboration with suppliers has increased - nearly 57 percent of respondents said they increased collaboration efforts with suppliers over the past two years.

PL Buyer was curious to see where the private label industry stood on the topic of collaboration with regard to product design. So we put a call out for feedback.

Question: Is your company currently involved in a partnership with a supplier or retailer to develop private label products?

Results:

• Yes. We’ve partnered with a supplier: 13%

• Yes. We’ve partnered with a retailer: 33%

• No. We’re flying solo: 54%

We also asked poll respondents to share their thoughts on some strengths and weaknesses they’ve come across in partnerships.

For the most part, retailer and supplier partnerships are regarded on both sides as being fruitful.

“There is a built-in support structure for the item’s success when the product is created in a team environment,” one respondent said. Yet, there also are feelings of discontent.

One reader noted, “Too many idea/concept people and not enough movers and shakers on the team stagnates the process. Once the idea is generated, the work needs to get done and all parties must carry their weight. Everyone on the team needs to check their ego and be realistic.”

To participate in the PL Buyer poll or to sign up for our eReport, visit www.privatelabelbuyer.com.

Attention Manufacturers!

Nominations are now being accepted for PL Buyer’s 2008 Retail Executives of the Year Awards!

Each year, PL Buyer honors a select group of retail executives that have demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the role of private label and a willingness to facilitate private label partnerships with vendors.

The results of this special recognition program will be featured within the June issue of PL Buyer.

If you know of a retail executive in your market that is deserving of this recognition and honor, please let us know!

This process is fast and easy! Visit www.privatelabelbuyer.com, and click on the 2008 Retail Executives of the Year banner to submit your nomination. Or contact Lori Seidler, associate editor, at seidlerl@bnpmedia.com.

The deadline for nominations is April 18 - don’t delay!

How Well Do You Know Your Customers?

In-store surveys and general observations of the clientele pushing carts through the store are not always enough to gain a firm grasp on your consumers’ purchasing habits or their purchasing capabilities.

A report released by Packaged Facts, a Rockville, Md.-based division of MarketResearch.com, examines demographic, attitudinal and behavioral trends among adults, kids and teens across the six marketing regions of the United States.

“A lot of retailers wanted consumer buying behavior on a regional basis, so we dove deeper into the specifics in each region,” said Tatjana Meerman, publisher for MarketResearch.com, in an interview with PL Buyer. “The report helps retailers [and manufacturers] to get a solid idea of who their customers are in a specific area, and how they can satisfy the needs of these consumers.”

The report shares several interesting facts regarding consumer purchasing habits throughout the country, including:

• Well-educated, Internet-savvy Northeastern adults are willing to take the time to educate them-selves about their shopping options. They are 15 percent more likely than average to use the Internet to help plan shopping trips, and 18 percent more likely to travel an hour or more to outlet malls for the best deals.

• Shopping attitudes in the West Central region might be considered as “middle of the road” because the region’s shoppers tend to be unadven-turous in seeking out new options. New store chains might have more difficulties building a presence in this region than they would elsewhere.

• Southwestern shoppers are 10 percent more likely to change the brands they buy for variety or novelty. However, they are 11 percent less likely to prefer local stores to national chains, and 10 percent less likely to be drawn to new stores by coupons.

More Consumers Going Kosher

As their concerns regarding food safety increase, many consumers are opting for non-conventional foods that are seen as being safer - and more healthful. According to Chicago-based Mintel International, the U.S. kosher food market in 2007 was about $12.5 billion, and it’s continuing to grow.

In its “Sacred Foods and Food Traditions” report published in January 2008, Mintel reported that 4,477 new kosher-certified products were launched in the United States in 2007. This number is astounding, considering that only 2,080 new “organic” products were released in the U.S. market during the same time, Mintel said.

The report states that the kosher food market has grown not so much because of religion, but because consumers of various backgrounds trust kosher foods to be safe and to have clearly identifiable ingredients. For many consumers, the kosher symbol guarantees that food is free of contaminants or disease.

"Kosher has come to the attention of people who are concerned about food safety," said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst for Mintel International, in an interview with PL Buyer. "The kosher manufacturing process includes a number of steps that can be considered 'safeguards' agains possible contamination."

This is especially true for beef - where consumers who fear mad cow disease feel that kosher beef provides a better option than conventionally raised beef, Mintel said.

But it’s not just kosher that’s seeing an increase in consumer demand. Also rising in popularity are halal foods - foods that are permissible according to Islamic law - and vegetarian options. Based on the information in the Mintel report, retailers might find it beneficial to educate consumers about the positive attributes of kosher, halal and vegetarian diets.