Copy Deadline: 8 March 2021
Goes to Press: 11 March 2021
In ESM: European Supermarket Magazine's second issue of 2021, we celebrate store brand excellence as we announce the winners of our annual European Private Label Awards, as well as check in on Europe's Fastest-Growing Product Categories, in association with IRI. There are major reports on Seafood, Free From & Functional Foods, Pet Care and Ethnic Foods, while we also explore how Loyalty Solutions are re-shaping the retailer-shopper relationship.
European Private Label Awards 2021 – Winners Announced
The votes have been counted and verified, and ESM is proud to reveal the winners of this year's European Private Label Awards, following a lengthy judging process that saw our team of experts assess product innovations from the four corners of Europe. Now in their fourth year, the Awards acknowledge excellence in store brand innovation by both retailers and suppliers.
Europe’s Fastest Growing Product Categories, in association with IRI
For the fifth year running, ESM has teamed up with IRI to examine the categories that are showing the most growth across several major European markets. The Europe’s Fastest Growing Product Categories report explores the trends that are driving category sales growth, how consumer purchasing behaviour has been influenced by external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in what categories brands are seeing off the challenge of private label.
Fresh Produce Focus
The fruit and vegetables sector is one of the most dynamic in the grocery landscape, in terms of new product innovation, supply chain efficiency, yield improvement and brand development – even during a pandemic. In our annual Fresh Produce Focus, ESM explores how retailers and suppliers alike are using the learnings generated over the past year to help position their fruit and vegetable offering for future growth. We also catch up with leading suppliers about the market-leading innovations they are bringing to the market, and speak to supermarket buyers about the challenges and opportunities they see emerging in the fresh produce sector over the coming months.
Planning & Forecasting
Close to a year on from the start of the pandemic, the need for clear, actionable data has never been more important for the retail sector – as the past 12 months have shown, product availability and consumer needs can change rapidly. However, many retailers still rely on archaic forecasting and planning tools, which don't always meet the needs of a fast-paced retail world. In the next issue of ESM, we look at how retailers can gain a competitive advantage over their competitors by embracing the latest digital Planning and Forecasting tools, in areas such as pricing, merchandising, promotions, procurement and loyalty solutions, as well as unlock hidden value.
Seafood
The global seafood industry continues to go from strength to strength, with aquaculture now the world's fastest growing protein production industry. But what effect has COVID-19 had on the sector, and what will be the lasting impact of the pandemic on the seafood supply chain? In ESM's annual Fish & Seafood report, we explore how retailers and suppliers are using the learnings generated during the pandemic to help position their seafood offering for future growth, and how they are seeking to reconfigure their sourcing capabilities to take advantage of increased consumer demand for healthier products. We also catch up with leading suppliers about the new innovations they are bringing to the market, and speak to supermarket buyers about the challenges and opportunities they see emerging in the seafood sector over the coming months.
Free From & Functional Foods
The Free From and Functional Foods categories were reaching a period of maturity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic – now, as we emerge from this crisis, consumer demand for products with added-value benefits, or containing specific dietary qualities, is likely to surge. At the same time, as these categories evolve, so suppliers operating in the sector will be placed under more scrutiny, so it is essential for producers to provide clarity on the specific qualities or benefits of their products, as well as seek to stand out alongside more established competitors. ESM examines these categories in more detail.
Pet Care
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, pet owners were focusing more on products with added-value benefits, such as foods with organic ingredients or functional benefits. The shift in focus towards human health is likely to have impacted the category to some degree – particularly when it comes to discretionary spend – but as we emerge out of the pandemic, the overall trend towards wellness is also likely to re-emerge in the Pet Care category. With a recession looming, pet owners now expect such added-value benefits as standard, rather than having to pay more for them, opening up opportunities for private label, ESM reports.
Plus much much more, including:
ESM meets Richo Boss, the newly-appointed chief executive of Danish retailer Meny, as the business seeks to capitalise on its most recent set of positive results.
ESM’s regular Europe’s Newsmakers section profiles the men and women making the news within the grocery retail sector over the most recent quarter.
ESM's regular Private Label Showcase feature highlights the latest own-brand innovations from across Europe, which continue to raise the bar within select grocery categories.
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For further details on any of these features, contact the ESM sales team at:
Niall Doyle niall@esmmagazine.com
Des Ball des@esmmagazine.com
Rocio Palma Perez rocio@esmmagazine.com
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