In September 2014, cereal king General Mills Inc. (GM) announced it was acquiring Annie’s Homegrown Inc. for approximately $820 million. Known for its macaroni and cheese and its bunny logo, Annie’s is a well-known natural and organic food producer, and very much conveys the feeling of a small environmentally-oriented company even with $204 million in sales reported for fiscal year 2013, according to Natural and Organic Foods and Beverages in Canada by Packaged Facts. The deal saw General Mill...
October 8, 2014“Free Range,” “Grass Fed,” “All Natural,” “Pasture Raised” - it all sounds so appealing how can any meat eater resist? And, in fact, plenty don’t. From all evidence, the market for beef, pork, lamb, bison, and venison raised in idyllic conditions is growing steadily. The USDA reports that meat (along with fish and poultry) has been the fastest growing component of the overall organic food market over the last decade. In addition, according to research from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (E...
September 11, 2014I’m holding in my hands a package of chips that carries the following information on it: “Certified Organic, Certified Gluten-Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, No Synthetic Pesticides or Chemical Fertilizers, No Trans Fats or High Fructose Corn Syrup, No Artificial Flavors, Colors or Preservatives.” I’m in food avoidance heaven. The product is from the gourmet snack foods section of my supermarket. I’m guessing your supermarket has a similar section. Of course, if you don’t s...
March 7, 2014Unlike conventional supermarkets, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s are destinations: places consumers seek out and travel to over long distances. The two chains’ retail strengths echo similar market strategies as they seek to capitalize on growing consumer interest in natural and organic products. In many ways, they also have very similar-and actually often the same-customers. Yet, the striking differences between the two chains are what keep the same consumers shopping at both. At Whole Food...
March 5, 2014