Blog
Learn about big data technology and trends for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail industries.
Onboarding | Trends & Research | expo
Last week, a few of my colleagues and I were given the opportunity to attend the annual Natural Products Expo West Show in Anaheim, California. Our attendance was strictly business, but it’s hard not to feel anxious and a bit overwhelmed walking into the 1,600,000+ square feet of exhibiting space at the Anaheim Convention Center. A mere 12 hours from the moment we walked in, that vast open space would be crawling with over 88,000 attendees representing over 3,400 unique exhibitors from around the world. It’s truly hard to describe the immensity of the show. Allow me to back up a bit and explain what the show is and how we fit into the equation. The Natural Products Expo Show, in its 39th year, is precisely what it sounds like: a giant convention where brands, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors go to show off their newest and hottest products coming to market. If you are a self-described “foodie,” this is undoubtedly your Mecca. I could probably write an entirely separate article on the hundreds of different product types showcased, but I’ll spare you. Instead, you can check out the extensive list by clicking here.
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Trends & Research | health & wellness | open data
The numbers can be difficult to swallow. In the U.S., the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s, according to the CDC. Recent data shows that 1 in 5 young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States have obesity. There are a number of factors that contribute to this, from genetics, to metabolism, sleep, physical activity, and outside influences like communities, schools, government agencies, and the media.
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Sales data and visuals powered by Nielsen Product Insider The New Year serves as an opportunity to reset and realign against a set of new goals. A 2018 Health Shopper Survey from Nielsen states that 37% of consumers are following a specific diet - up from 35% in 2017 and 29% in 2016. Now more than ever, Americans are resolving to prioritize and become more invested in their health and wellness in the New Year, including but not limited to revamping daily eating regimens.
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Trends & Research | health & wellness | industry news | omnichannel
Label Insight, the market leader for transparency, today revealed the top three trends for 2019 based on the consumer mandate for transparency. As discovered in a recent study by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), shoppers are demanding greater transparency and a closer connection to their food. Seventy-five percent of consumers are more likely to switch to a brand that provides more in-depth product information, beyond what's provided on the physical label. That sentiment is driving significant changes through the food retailing industry.
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DataBite | Press | Trends & Research
Americans are cutting back on sugars: nearly half of consumers (47 percent) reported planning to eat less sugar or buy more 'no sugar added' products this year. Yet, a trip around the Thanksgiving table shows that hidden sugars are piling up, long before the pumpkin pie.
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Trends & Research | health & wellness | industry news
It’s no secret that Americans have become increasingly more health-conscious across all areas of life. But we’ve recently found that the presence of children in a household often creates a greater desire to know and understand more about the food being served to the entire family. Recent research suggests that parents place greater importance on knowing more information about ingredients, nutrition, health benefits and other product information when deciding what products to buy.
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Summertime is upon us and with that comes popular activities like swimming, barbequing or building sand castles. But the hot summer rays and dry, summer heat can wreak havoc on hair, skin and nails. It's no surprise, then, that shoppers are looking for skin care products that will keep them glowing, moisturized and feeling healthy throughout the summer months.
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What is Quark? In March I was honored to speak at the Clean Label Conference in Itasca, Illinois on clean label ingredient trends. There I met Craig Sherwin who is the Technical Service Manager for Novozymes North America, a Dutch ingredient company. Craig was promoting an alternative to the conventional yeast-based lactase used in lactose-free dairy. He mentioned this being applied to a variety of dairy products, including a traditional Germanic product called “Quark”. Somewhere between the texture of a thick yogurt and ricotta cheese, quark is a creamy, cultured milk product that can be used in sweet and savory dishes, or eaten plain.
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Hop to it: It’s not too late to shop for a better-for-you Easter basket With Easter right around the corner many Americans are gearing up for a big family celebration. According to Packaged Facts’ “Food Gifting in the U.S.: Consumer and Corporate” report, those celebrating Easter last year spent an estimated $18 billion on products including candy, gifts, food and flowers, with $152 spent per celebrant. Food and candy comprised more than $6 billion of consumers’ Easter spending.
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Serving up Data Bites, One Slice at a Time March 14, or 3.14, is National Pi Day. A day when America pays homage to the mathematical constant π. Pi is that unique, never repeating or ending, fraction that many of us remember from geometry class -- the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. So it’s appropriate that we celebrate with food in the shape of a circle. Many grocery stores offer deals on pizza pies, fruit pies and even chicken pot pies. There is no doubt a pie for everyone.
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