MARKET WATCH
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Top CPG and Retail Execs to Headline GS1 Connect Conference
Executives from more than 50 organizations, including The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg, Mercy, Target, Tyson Foods, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will headline the conference program at GS1 Connect June 10-13 JW Marriott, San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.
Experts from top companies in the grocery, retail, healthcare and foodservice industries
will share best practices for leveraging GS1 Standards and address the most relevant business process needs of each sector.
This year’s line-up of speakers for “How to do Business With” sessions includes executives from Ace Hardware, Best Buy, Dillard's, The Kroger Co., Lowe's, McLane Company, Sam’s Club, Sears Holdings, Target, Wakefern Food Corp., Walgreens, and Wegmans Food Markets.
Key topics in the grocery track include invigorating traceability programs for consumer packaged goods companies, the implications of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the 2014 Sunrise Date for the use
of the DataBar for loose produce and coupons, Data Quality Framework initiative and GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network) major release update, and transitioning from generic to brand owner U.P.C. barcodes in produce. This track includes sessions with speakers from The Coca-Cola Company,
Dean Foods, Institute of Food Technologists, Tyson Foods, Wakefern Food Corp., and Wegmans,
among others.
“GS1 Connect allows trading partners to directly collaborate and network with their peers, suppliers, and customers,” said Bob Carpenter, President and CEO of GS1 US. “These collaborative, interactive sessions provide an opportunity for suppliers to engage with their customers and gain a better understanding of how they are utilizing GS1 Standards in key business processes, how these industry initiatives will impact their businesses, and how they can better work with their trading partners to improve supply chain performance across their networks.”
New Digital Loyalty Program at Loblaws
Canadian grocer Loblaws Cos. has launched a digital loyalty-marketing program in its Ontario division with plans to roll it out across the country by the end of the year.
Shoppers sign up by downloading the PC Plus smartphone app which functions as a traditional loyalty card. The program rewards shoppers for buying products they normally purchase, and enables them to get more rewards for expanding their customary list.
As well as the standard shopping function, the app offers meal planning and shopping list creation based on sales items and purchase history.
H-E-B Tests 'Scanning Tunnel' at Checkout
In one of its Texas stores, grocer H-E-B is testing a 360-degree scanner at checkout that automatically registers the bar code on each item as it travels down the conveyer belt.
The unit is based on Fast Scan technology, which allows cashiers to focus on bagging the already-scanned items. After shoppers finish their purchase, they can grade the new scanner by pushing one of four buttons with faces displaying emotions ranging from happy to angry.
VideoMining Awarded Patent for Measuring Packaging Effectiveness
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded a patent to VideoMining Corporation for measuring the effectiveness of product packaging to attract, engage and influence purchase decisions of shoppers in a retail store.
The invention enables quantitative analysis of the behavioral and emotional responses to different packaging concepts. The use of video analytics software allows the capture of “natural” behavior of a very large sample of shoppers relative to product packaging in actual stores.
“The precise response data from shoppers in a real-world setting offers a compelling platform for testing new packaging concepts before it is rolled out,” said Priya Baboo, President of Client Solutions at VideoMining. “The solution is immediately available in our national store panel across multiple channels so the tests can be rapidly implemented in cooperation with participating retailers.”
Dr. Rajeev Sharma, Founder & CEO of VideoMining, added: “Packaging plays an important role in the shopper decision process. Quantifying that role for a brand would help in optimizing its shelf impact.”
Dr. Namsoon Jung, President of VideoMining Lab, the R&D division of VideoMining Corporation, said, “We are very pleased with the latest addition to our Retail Analytics patent portfolio since it expands the breadth of our solutions for shopper marketing intelligence.”
ShoptoCook Welcomes New Clients
ShoptoCook, provider of an in-store Meal Idea Center and other digital solutions, has been selected to rebuild websites for ShurSave Markets, Family Owned Markets and ShurFine Markets.
These banners consist of over 60 independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. All three ad groups are members of Associated Wholesale, which recently signed an agreement with ShoptoCook to provide members with a variety of services: websites, in-store touch screens to help shoppers find recipes, coupons, and more. Other services include e-newsletters, mobile reward applications and other digital marketing solutions.
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