Nonfoods

According to Los Angeles-based industry research firm IBISWorld, which investigated grocery costs in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago to gauge consumer spending across the United States, Chicago’s prices were the cheapest on average for all food-brand categories (store, commercial and organic) of the three analyzed regions, coming in at $115.73. Los Angeles was the most expensive, at $124.43, while New York was a bit cheaper, at $122.66.

An article in Advertising Age cited a study from news-monitoring service VMS that reported the marketing value of Tweets within the past month at $48 million in terms of impressions.

The acting Surgeon General, Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., held up Hannaford Supermarkets’ well-publicized “Guiding Stars” nutrition-rating system as an effective way to change consumer behavior, and as the gold standard example of how to get Americans back to healthy eating, in his opening remarks this morning at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Weight of the Nation conference taking place through July 29 in Washington.

Stick around for seven or more decades, and you’re apt to become the focal point of some stereotypes before you’re done. In the case of today’s 65-and-older consumers, though, the problem is that the stereotypes of frail-and-lonely ancients are more creaky than the people to whom they’re applied.

Beleaguered retailers looking for encouraging signs can take comfort in new Deloitte research showing that fewer consumers expect to reduce their spending on back-to-school items compared with last year. Still, amid continuing concerns about the economy and job security, shoppers are demanding value when they open their wallets.

In an effort to provide customers with additional savings opportunities, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets have made many of their manufacturer coupons available online through Giant’s ongoing partnership with Grocery Shopping Network, and the My Giant Online and My Martin’s Online personalized Web experiences developed through the partnership.

Last week Philadelphia was the site of the first leg of the National Conversation on Urban and Metropolitan America as officials from the Obama administration met to hear about local efforts to provide fresh, quality food in low-income communities.

Nature’s Path Organic Foods has created a cereal for people who want health benefits but are loath to sacrifice taste.