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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW • JULY 2019 • www.kitchenwarenews.com BY ROBIN MATHER As food and beverages become more digi- tally available, and more consumers are looking for foods to be delivered, retailers have new roles to play, says Darren Siefer, a food and beverage industry analyst with the global market research firm The NPD Group, Inc.'s New York office. "We've been looking at consumption trends five years out," Siefer says. "Snack foods are among the top items that consumers shop for on- line to bring into their homes. The assort- ments that retailers offer needs to reflect the generational categories we've observed." Siefer, who's studied 30 years of NPD data on consumer behavior, says he likes to use a "cohort model," which looks at con- sumer behavior from a generational stand- point. But that's not the only way to parse the data he's found. "The influence of e- commerce has changed the definition of what the word 'store' means," he says. "We're going to start seeing consumers walking into grocery stores and, instead of shopping by a list, they're looking for solu- tions." That means that, for people who are trying to keep their time in the store to a minimum, rearranging the store's organiza- tion may make sense. "I would think about a sandwich destination, for example, where the tomatoes and lettuce are displayed alongside the deli meat and cheeses, the condiments, and the bread needed to make a sandwich," he said. "I've often said that the arrangement of grocery stores needs to change." Retailers may be surprised by some of the statistics that Siefer has uncovered. "Over the years, the percentage of men who are the primary grocery shoppers has risen. It's now at 40 percent. Men shoppers spend less time in the store – and less money in the store, because if they can't find something, they won't ask where it is. We're famous for not asking for directions." But, Siefer says, retailers' customers "don't abandon the brick-and-mortar store. Instead, they're adding outlets like buying snacks online. It's about adding another strategy to your shopping machine. If you're a retailer who can offer both brick- and-mortar and online shopping, you're keeping your consumers under your um- brella." Understanding Generational Snacking Behavior Snacking behavior can be understood through a generational lens, says Siefer. Baby Boomer consumers are concerned with snacks that deliver on flavor, texture and health. "Theirs are a lot of different ex- pectations," he says. "Categories like ice cream will grow, but so will fresh fruit. Their balance is 'I need to maintain my health,' but then the dam breaks and they say, 'I've been working hard and I deserve some ice cream." Understanding Boomers' snacking behavior can help retailers capture some of this affluent generation's food dol- lars. Gen Xers "will typically snack heavily as they move into this stage of their lives. They're striking a balance, Siefer says, "and they're going to be doing it in a lot of cate- gories." Gen X snackers are interested in better-for-you snacks as well as indulgent ones, he says. Millennials are all adults now, Siefer says, "so we're going to see a continuation of where they are now. They're starting to fend for themselves, so we expect to see their in- terest in savory snacks rising." Finally, the youngest generation, Gen Z, is starting to understand themselves and their tastes. "Gen Z is an interesting generation at the moment," Siefer says. "They're going through some major life changes now. The older members of Gen Z are starting to get more sophisticated. They're starting to re- duce their consumption of childhood snacks like cookies and moving into more savory snacks like nuts and seeds." Still Another Way to Understand Consumer Preferences There's one more thing that retailers should consider. Today's snack shoppers are keenly plugged into seeking snacks for their vari- ous benefits – better-for-you, free-from and other considerations. "Retailers could think about arranging snack foods by what they deliver," says Siefer says. Rather than putting all the chips in one place and the candy in another, "re- tailers could help their customers by put- ting different types of snacks together. Are you looking to indulge? Are you looking for protein? Aisle pop-outs could help cus- tomers quickly get to where they need to go." Of course, retailers should remember that, as with real estate, it's location, loca- tion, location. The needs of a retailer's cus- tomers will depend on the surrounding neighborhood. "What are the demographics surrounding your store?" asks Siefer. "People who pa- tronize a store near a retirement community are going to have different needs than peo- ple who stop into a store near their com- muter line for a grab-and-go." KN snacking look like? JK Adams Woodstock Collection Hudson Valley Lighting Group debuted its first-ever West Coast showroom this year at Las Vegas Market. The 23,742-square- foot showroom included Hudson Valley Lighting, Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting, Troy Lighting and Corbett Lighting. "Las Vegas Market is pleased to welcome Hudson Valley Lighting to its ever-expand- ing roster of industry-leading lighting ven- dors," said Scott Eckman, President of Furniture and Home Décor Leasing for In- ternational Market Centers. "As the leading home furnishings and gift market in the western U.S., Las Vegas Market is proud to offer buyers, designers and exhibitors a growing variety of options for their lighting needs." Hudson Valley Lighting Group's portfo- lio of brands showcased a comprehensive selection of premium lighting fixtures, in- cluding designer collections from Mark D. Sikes for Hudson Valley Lighting and Mar- tyn Lawrence Bullard for Corbett Lighting. David Littman, Founder and Chief Execu- tive Officer of Hudson Valley Lighting Group, says Las Vegas Market is the perfect platform to complement the company's array of product offerings: "Las Vegas Mar- Hudson Valley Lighting Group makes West Coast Debut at LVM ket's energy is legendary and we're beyond thrilled to finally be a part of it. Tomorrow's interiors are already taking shape here, today." Hudson Valley Lighting Group is com- prised of four industry-recognized brands: Hudson Valley Lighting, Mitzi, Troy Lighting and Corbett Lighting. Each brand is united by common principles: the pursuit of excel- lence, a design-driven culture, attention to ever-changing environmental considerations and a commitment to the highest possible quality. For more information, visit www.hvl- group.com. KN The new Woodstock collection of serving pieces from JK Adams is created in walnut wood with leather handles. Available in three shapes and sizes, wholesale prices start at $40. See them at the Las Vegas, At- lanta and NY NOW markets. Visit www.jkadams.com for more infor- mation. KN what does the Future of 6

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