Supermarket Guru Offers Challenges to Distributors
Phil Lempert, the “Supermarket Guru,” one of the leading experts on developments in the food industry – including consumer trends – told distributors in Wednesday’s opening super session that they are in a perfect position to capitalize on an increasing desire of consumers to shop in smaller format stores to benefit from their convenience.
“Consumer trends change and evolve,” Lempert said, “so our job is to continually evolve and change as well. We need to stay in front of those trends.”
While consumers are still nervous about the economy and some of their newly adopted strategies to save money are likely to remain even as times improve, Lempert said “value” is at the heart of their decision-making today when it comes to spending money.
“There are new rules at retail,” he said. “Don’t screw up. People will not accept mistakes. For them, ‘It’s all about me.’ Quality is where it’s at. Quality is everything, just to be in the game.”
Other important consumer concerns, according to Lempert, include an increasing interest in the country-of-origin of food, a desire to eat healthier, an increasing interest in, and use of, technology – including social media – and a need for ways to save time in busy schedules.
Distributors, he said, need to care about what is driving consumers so they can better understand the needs of their retailer customers. “If you don’t care about consumers, fold up your tent and leave,” he advised. “You must have knowledge of your customers’ consumers.”
