Author: John Karolefski

CPGmatters: Makers of General Merchandise Need to Gain CM Expertise

Which CPG manufacturers offer retailers the most expertise in category management? Hint: None are makers of general merchandise. In fact, those companies are considered far behind food and beverage firms when it comes to best-of-class and even routine expertise. Do you agree that category management isn’t as advanced in general merchandise categories as food and beverage categories? What lessons could GM suppliers learn from how category management is practiced elsewhere?

CPGmatters: Kraft Scores with Concepts To Generate Center Store Traffic

Kraft Foods is relying on shopper insights and the power of its brands to help supermarket retailers lure shoppers from the jazzy perimeter into the center store aisles. One way that Kraft has done that is with Center Store Café, which aims to bring the atmosphere of a coffee café to the center of the supermarket while promoting super-premium coffees. What do you think of the potential for Kraft’s in-store concepts to encourage consumers to shop center aisles?

CPGmatters: Coke Focuses on Segmentation For New Go-to-Market Strategy

The right product in the right place with the right message for the right shopper. That’s the goal of Coca-Cola’s new go-to-market strategy that focuses on a segmentation platform to address shopper needs and deliver customized beverage solutions to supermarkets. What do you think of Coca Cola’s new shopper segmentation strategy? What do you think are some of the opportunities as well as challenges in implementing such a system?

CPGmatters: Diageo Reveals What Wal-Mart Really Wants from Suppliers

As category advisor for the beverage alcohol business, Diageo relies on store-by-store planograms to maximize sales in Wal-Mart. There are 35 different shelf sets ranging from four feet to 168 feet in the 18 states where its world-class brands of beer, wine and spirits are sold. Anything surprise you about the requirements listed by Diageo’s Francesca Hahn on ways to be a strong supplier to Wal-Mart? Did she miss any?

GHQ Cover Story: Native Wisdom

Bashas’ Family of Stores in Arizona is celebrating its 75th anniversary of surviving as the likes of Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Walgreens have opened stores throughout the state. Mike Proulx, president and COO of Bashas’ Family of Stores, sees being a family-owned business as an advantage. What is your assessment of Bashas’ Family of Stores and the relative strength/weakness of its banners?