The strong growth of our Core Sets program reflects the effectiveness of centralizing category strategy. When more co-ops adopt more of the recommended Core Sets products that address common consumer needs across co-ops, NCG increases our leverage with brand partners and commands a greater share of their trade budgets, fueling sales at member co-ops and not your competitors.
At Natural Products Expo West, SPINS noted some trends were just starting to bloom, while others had seemingly reached their autumnal peak. Read about trends that stood out both for their popularity across the tradeshow and for their distinct stages within the larger product trend life cycle.
Nobody does local produce better than co-ops! For your co-op to be relevant to more consumers, it’s important to maintain a full produce assortment balanced between locally grown items and essentials not available from nearby farms.
To better understand what “healthy” means to the communities they serve and cut through stigmas around food, Erie Food Co-op hosted a staff conversation session and presentation by NCG Racial Equity and Food Justice Manager Gabby Davis.
The co-op recently hosted NCG’s retail specialists at the Gallup outlet store. NCG’s team supported La Montañita’s staff with training around making data-driven decisions and attracting shoppers through customer service, merchandising and promotions.
According to SPINS data, more than 22,000 new products were launched in 2022! To help navigate the quickly changing natural product landscape, SPINS looked at the array of new items and spotlights some of the ones to watch.
Amid record price increases and supply shortages of eggs, co-ops’ creativity and adaptability have proven to be essential in retaining customers and fulfilling shopper needs. Oshkosh Food Co-op gained media attention when it took to social media to promote the price and availability of local eggs at the store.
Bring some friendly competition to your co-op this spring with Cheese Madness! If reinvigorating storewide promotions at the co-op this year is on your list of goals, we invite you to kick off this effort with Cheese Madness.
Over the last year, cost and value have become more important to food and beverage shoppers. But they also remain determined to sample new products, ensure personal wellbeing and support planetary health. SPINS explains five consumer trends to watch in 2023.
Consumer packaged goods prices are experiencing their highest increases in over 40 years, however, it’s important to realize that inflation is appearing differently in the conventional and natural channels than at co-ops.
