Research Topic

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. - Increasing product availability on the store shelf can boost retail sales by three percent or $200,000 annually per average supermarket, according to a study released today from the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

SAN FRANCISCO - An activist group called the GE-Free Markets Coalition and regional anti-GE food groups are organizing "the National Day of Action" on June 8 as part of a multi-year campaign to get GE foods out of grocery stores.

CINCINNATI and BOISE, Idaho - The Kroger Co. and Albertson's on Friday said separately that they continue to support the Food Marketing Institute's development of an animal welfare program and will require their suppliers to adopt the program's "best practice" guidelines when they are issued by FMI in early summer.

NEW YORK - U.S. consumer sentiment rose in May to its highest level in 18 months, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department today said sales at U.S. online retailers fell 11.9 percent in the first three months of the year, Reuters reports. But sales were up 19.3 percent from a year earlier.

LONDON/JOHANNESBURG - South African Breweries Plc (SAB) today agreed to buy U.S. beer giant Miller Brewing for $5.6 billion. The move makes SAB the number two brewer in the world behind Anheuser-Busch.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - ACNielsen U.S. has announced the launch of the Homescan RX/OTC Consumer Panel, a new research service that measures consumer purchases and use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

MIAMI - With 2001 unit shipments up 162 percent, the retail self-checkout market is poised to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue by 2003, according to a new study from IHL Consulting Group.