Daily coronavirus cases are breaking records, but surging sales of frozen meats and alcohol indicate consumers still want to barbecue
When the U.S. went into quarantine in March, consumers were buying up pantry goods so quickly that grocery stores had to limit quantities per customer. Pasta, beans, and flour were near impossible to find and social feeds were flooded with elaborate quarantine baking results. But as the seasons have shifted from late winter to peak summer, the joy of maintaining a sourdough starter is fading and people are craving social interactions. New data on consumers’ grocery shopping habits from NCSolutions indicates that despite record daily coronavirus cases, consumers are still shopping for typical summer events like barbecue, picnics and graduation parties.
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS SALES UP 17% IN JUNE COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO
Alcohol, Frozen Foods and Meat Categories Lead With Highest Gains During June and Through the Home-Confined Buying Shopping Stage
NEW YORK, July 15, 2020 – Household consumer packaged goods (CPG) spending overall was up 17% in June compared to June 2019, following an increase of 21% in May 2020 over the previous year. The findings are part of new data released by NCSolutions (NCS), the leading company for improving advertising effectiveness for the consumer packaged goods ecosystem.
In addition, an analysis of the Home-Confined Buying period (March 22-June 30) shows the highest performing CPG categories during this phase of the pandemic, were frozen meat, alcohol and frozen foods. Continue reading “HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS SALES UP 17% IN JUNE COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO”
9 Essential Tips to Optimize Connected TV Advertising Spends
From SMBs to mid-market, businesses upended their go-to marketing strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as the markets reopen, brands have the advantage and exposure to new advertising tools, and one such medium is connected TV (CTV).
From standalone streaming devices, such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google’s Android TV, and Apple TV to streaming channels such as HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, the connected TV network has grown multifold in the recent years. The Leichtman Research Group estimates 80% of TV homes in the U.S. have at least one connected TV device. This is an increase from 74% with at least one connected TV device in 2018 and 24% in 2010. The study also reported that there are 400 million connected TV devices in the U.S. and 64% of TV households have three or more connected TV devices.
The Country’s Run on Toilet Paper Is Officially Over
Ever since the pandemic set off a national wave of panic buying, few items have served as a better indicator of consumer fear and anxiety than toilet paper. Now, new sales numbers suggest the nation’s concerns are abating.
For the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak, in-store U.S. sales of toilet paper dipped lower than they were during the same period last year. For the week ending June 13, year-over-year sales of toilet paper were down 0.6%, according to Nielsen.
AS STATES REOPEN, CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS SPENDING IN MAY REMAINS 21% HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO
Baking Ingredients Continue Strong Growth; May Shoppers Stock Up on Meat
NEW YORK, June 18, 2020 — Household consumer packaged goods (CPG) spending in May 2020 was up 21% compared to May 2019, but not quite as impressive as the year-over-year increase in April 2020 (+29%) or March (+36%). These findings are part of new data released by NCSolutions (NCS), the leading company for improving advertising effectiveness for the consumer packaged goods ecosystem.
Americans remain in what NCS has defined as the Home-Confined Buying stage of this COVID-era, even though by May 20, all 50 states had started the process to relax restrictions on a range of businesses, from restaurants to salons. NCS continues to define the current stage of CPG shopping as Home-Confined due to the elevated household spend on CPG products, indicating that Americans are eating home more often. Flour, extracts, frozen poultry and meat are among the categories that continue to have higher than usual sales. Continue reading “AS STATES REOPEN, CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS SPENDING IN MAY REMAINS 21% HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO”
The case of the missing toilet paper: How the coronavirus exposed U.S. supply chain flaws
May 18, 2020 – Before executives at paper-goods giant Kimberly-Clark rushed to shut their offices on Friday the 13th of March, they convened for one last emergency meeting. Commuting home that final time, Arist Mastorides, president of family care for North America, stopped at his local Walmart, on the edge of Lake Winnebago in Neenah, Wis., to see the emergency firsthand. Mastorides oversees toilet paper brands like Cottonelle and Scott, but that evening he could find none of his own products. “A long gondola shelf that’s completely empty of bathroom and facial tissue, I never in my life thought I would ever see that,” he says. “That’s a very unsettling thing.”
Established CPG Brands Have Even Stronger Pandemic Sales
May 15, 2020 – Consumer packaged goods marketers are discovering that in an uncertain world, consumers are maintaining their reliance on the most established brands.
People want to stick with what they know. That’s the conclusion offered by a new NCSolutions Loyalty survey.
The report, called “Loyalty in the Time of COVID: Why Branding and Targeted Advertising Matter More Now than Ever,” looked at buying decisions in more than 51 million households for more than 50 brands spread across 16 different advertisers.
1 in 5 Shoppers Have Changed Grocery Stores During the Pandemic
May 15, 2020 — During these turbulent times, 20% of shoppers have left their primary grocery store in favor of another, according to new survey data from McKinsey & Co.
Not only that, but 37% of those who’ve made the switch expect to remain loyal to the new retailer after the crisis ends.
The main reasons people stopped shopping at their primary grocer were constant problems with keeping the shelves full and better ecommerce offerings elsewhere. Another contributing factor was that consumers opted to rely on a store that was located closer to their home or place of work.
INCREASED DEMAND FOR CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS CREATES ATYPICAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR BRANDS
New NCSolutions Loyalty Study Confirms Strong Return on Ad Spend for Brands Invested in Advertising and Brand Loyalty
NEW YORK, May 15, 2020 — The unprecedented 34% growth of consumer packaged goods (CPG) sales since March 22 of this year has created a significant growth opportunity for major brands to grow their market share. Consumer brands with high levels of brand equity and consumer trust, and which consistently advertised through the current marketplace disruption, have been the major beneficiaries of consumer loyalty and expanded market share. Continue reading “INCREASED DEMAND FOR CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS CREATES ATYPICAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR BRANDS”
Vast cutbacks in jobs and spending before any summer rebound
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Wednesday related to national and global response, the work place and the spread of the virus.
TRAVEL & LEISURE: Boeing said this week that it’s gone another month without a single airplane order, cruise ships are devoid of passengers and gasoline prices are plunging because few people are commuting to work or taking road trips. Global travel is close to a standstill.