News Briefs

The recent slowing of consumer store traffic is creating challenges for the food-away-from-home indsdustry — but for some industry segments more than others.

The total restaurant category — including full-service and limited-service restaurants — is projected to grow 0.5% in 2024 on top of 0.8% last year, according to the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s latest 2024 and 2025 Food Away-From-Home Industry and Segment Projections. 

Quick-service restaurants, which have performed significantly better in recent years than other segments overall, are projected to grow 0.7%. The fast casual segment shows bullish growth of 1.3% percent, a positive adjustment compared to the February projection of 0.9%.

IFMA also revised its projection for casual dining to flat growth, compared to 0.5% in February, with the change reflecting the consumer trade down to lower cost occasions, the group explained. Midscale restaurants are the only major restaurant segment where IFMA projects a decline of 0.7%.

On-Site Segment

Collectively, on-site segments in 2024 are projected to grow 2%, largely because their recovery from 2020 was slower than that of restaurants. The college & university and lodging segments are expected to lead on-site growth at 2.0% and 2.8%, respectively. 

The business and industry segment continues its slow recovery, although overall volume is still well below pre-pandemic levels.

IFMA has revised its overall 2024 price inflation rates down from 5.0% in February to 3.8%, reflecting a slowdown in costs of goods sold by FAFH operators.

The IFMA forecast models were created in conjunction with Datassential, a leading foodservice research firm, and validated by operators from the five IFMA Foodservice Leadership Councils.

Walmart’s dominance in grocery continues to grow. 

According to data from Numerator, the retail giant captured 21.4% of grocery dollar share during the past 12 months (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024). That’s up from 20.8% in the year-ago period. 

Kroger was a distant second, capturing 8.9% of dollar share for the period, down from 9.2% in 2023.

Numerator’s list of the top five grocery retailers by dollar share is below. (Numerator’s new grocery market share view now includes all FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), specialty, and e-commerce retailers and looks at all grocery sectors except alcohol.

Japanese retailer Daiso is expanding its footprint in the United States with three new openings this week.

The chain, which sells household goods, stationery, beauty products and more, will open new locations in Beaumont, Texas, Van Nuys, Calif. and Westminster Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The new store in Beaumont is an 8,000-sq.-ft location at Dowlen Towne Center, while the Southern California locations in Van Nuys at Mid Valley Marketplace and Westminster at Westminster Center will stand at 6,319-sq.-ft. and 5,200-sq.-ft. respectively.

Daiso first entered the U.S. in 2005, and now operates 141 stores in eight states. The chain said that additional openings in new states are planned for the remainder of the year.

"We are thrilled to open our store at Westminster Center, Dowlen Towne Center and Westminster Center," said Jack Williams, chief retail operations officer for Daiso USA. "This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daiso's unique concept and diverse product range.”

[READ MORE: Uniqlo to expand in Canada — here are the locations]

At all three new Daiso locations, on both Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11, the first 100 customers to shop at each location and make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive an exclusive goodie bag.

Walgreens Boots Alliance continues to reduce its stake in Cencora.

The pharmacy retailer said it sold shares in the drug distributor, formerly known as AmerisourceBergen, for proceeds of about $1.1 billion. With the transaction, Walgreens’ stake in Cencora has decreased to about 10% from approximately 12%.

The pharmacy retailer said that proceeds from the share sale will be used primarily for debt pay down and general corporate purposes as its continues to build out a more capital-efficient health services strategy rooted in its retail pharmacy footprint.

Walgreens noted that the sale has no impact to the long-term partnership between the two companies. Ornella Barra, COO of Walgreens, will continue to serve on Cencora’s board.

Walgreens has been steadily reducing its stake in Cencora. In May, the company sold $400 million worth of shares, after lowering it from 15% earlier in the year.

The latest sale comes as Walgreens is working on a strategy to turnaround its U.S. business. In June, the company said it was finalizing a "significant multiyear footprint optimization program" to close certain underperforming U.S. stores. 

Primark is continuing its Southern U.S. expansion — with a twist.

The global value fashion and essentials retailer will open a location at The Florida Mall in Orlando on August 29. With the store close to Walt Disney World Resort and in a first for Primark, the two-level 36,200-sq.-ft. outpost will have an entire floor dedicated to Disney fans. The offerings, part of the chain’s Disney at Primark collection, will include a broad array of apparel and accessories featuring Disney characters. 

Primark stores feature women's, men's and kids fashions and essentials as well as beauty, home goods and accessories. With denim starting at $10 and tee shirts at $4.50, the retailer is known for its budget prices.

The Florida Mall location will bring Primark’s U.S. fleet to 26 stores across 10 states. It also marks the retailer's 450th store globally as it works towards its goal of reaching 530 stores by the end of 2026. 

The Orlando store comes as Primark continues its expansion in the Southern states. The retailer currently has a location at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Fla., and a distribution center in Jacksonville, Fla.  It has also announced plans to open three stores in Texas. 

[READ MORE: Primark continues U.S. growth; enters new state] 

"Florida is a pillar of our expansion into the Southern U.S. market,” said Kevin Tulip, president of Primark US. “What makes this location so unique and exciting is our entire floor of affordable, high-quality Disney merchandise. Whether you're a local or Orlando visitor, the magic of Disney is sure to be found here."

Digital grocery coupons are overtaking traditional paper circulars.

Grocery wholesaler United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) and retail solutions provider Swiftly found that 43% of Americans use digital coupons at their local grocery store via a smartphone app, compared to just 23% who physically cut coupons from a paper circular. Nearly half of Americans (45%) report relying on deals and promotions as part of their everyday grocery shopping experience, and (49%) desire more deals on things they want or already buy.

Saving money is top-of-mind for grocery shoppers. Just 8% of those surveyed say they don’t care about finding ways to save money at their local grocery stores, and only 12% say price does not factor into purchasing decisions. Nine-in-10 Americans (92%) know whether their local grocery store offers digital coupons and nearly a third (32%) wish their local grocery store offered more digital coupons.

[READ MORE: Consumer confidence edges up in July]

The survey follows the launch of UNFI’s retail media network for independent and regional grocers, made up of more than 30,000 retail locations and nearly 11,000 brand partners to “help them compete in an increasingly digital-first world.”

“The results of this survey are a meaningful validation of our strategy and reaffirm the importance of our focus to help our customers leverage retail media to more impactfully reach today’s consumers,” said Louis Marin, UNFI’s president of wholesale.

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of UNFI from June 25-27, 2024, among 2,092 adults ages 18 and older.