Attitudes: Retailers

Less than half of consumers surveyed see Fair Trade products in the stores they regularly shop, said a Fair Trade supplier trade group.

On top of shrinking margins, election-year pressures find most retail CFOs "very concerned" about potential higher taxes, fewer incentives as a result of possible tax reforms.

The four-minute piece buttresses the findings of the entities' joint study, "The 2008 Food Beverage and Consumer Products Industry Report: Achieving Superior Financial Performance in a Challenging Economy."

In mandatory meetings across the country, the retailer warned store managers and department supervisors that a Democratic win in November could open the door to union infiltration.

The influential food retailers ranked first and second, respectively, in the survey, which targeted Generation Y consumers in major cities.

OgilvyAction conducted over 14,000 shopper interviews in 700 retail outlets spanning five retail channels and six product categories in 24 markets worldwide.

Also, here in the states, the latest Gallup poll results find beer's lead over wine, spirits is back to double digits.

The trio of grocers took top honors in the supermarkets category in Corporate Research International's RealPeopleRatings.com second quarter customer service survey.