Consumer Behaviour

Top 6 selling bloopers (and how to avoid them)

Sports bloopers often about preventable errors that favor the other team. The classic is when players score against their own side. In the world of business, there are similar blunders - particularly during buying conversations with potential customers - that end up favouring the competition. As I explain in my seminars for sales teams, it's not always a shortfall in your company's product, price, or service that ruins a potential sale. Often it's inadvertent comments that put customers off just enough for them to choose your competitor. Unfortunately, sales reps are usually unaware they commit these offences so they keep repeating them. See if you or your team members ever make these top six selling gaffs.

Coffee and consumer health: good-news research

In the process of looking at what might reduce inflammation, researchers have discovered the answer in a cup of coffee.

David Furman has upped his single shot of espresso to a double shot.

Soft drink trends in Canada

Consumer preferences will shift toward products that provide natural and healthier alternatives, interesting experiences, convenience and portion control.

Better hydration and fun experience in beverage drinking are at the core of consumer demand for soft drinks in Canada, according to a February 2017 report from international research firm Euromonitor.

Cold drinks, hot sellers

Beverages that offer consumers some kind of health benefit have been on the rise in recent years.

With warmer weather just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about which refreshing beverages will help your customers survive the dog days of summer. And while it’s hard to go wrong with a good, old-fashioned pitcher of iced tea or lemonade, the increasing diversity of cold beverage options in Canada should give both consumers and vending operators something to think about when it comes to choosing their beverages this summer.

Maritimers stock up on chips ahead of winter storms

Atlantic Canada – When the skies turn grey and the wind howls along the eastern coastline, shoppers head to supermarkets and convenience stores, to stock up on the essentials. But in the Atlantic provinces, there’s a new bad-weather staple: storm chips. CBC News reports. | READ MORE

McCormick forecast highlights 5 food trends for 2017

London, Ont. – Breakfast is front and centre in McCormick & Company's 2017 Flavour Forecast, which highlights adventurous breakfast options, versatile eggs, and peppery foods as food trends to watch.

Demand for natural beverages to grow, Technomic report says

Chicago – Demand for natural beverages will grow as Canadians become more health-conscious, according to a new report from Technomic Inc.

Diet soda talked about less on social media, research company says

London, UK – A company called Engagement Labs recently employed a tool known as TotalSocial to examine consumer conversations about brands and categories. The company found that while people seem to be talking about regular soft drinks, talk about diet soft drinks is starting to fizzle out. Bravo reports. | READ MORE

Drinking decisions

While big soda brands still lead the charge in the Canadian beverage market, consumer demand for healthier products and sustainable packaging are making an impact on the industry.

Food industry should look at single servings: expert

Canada - In a contributed article to the Times Colonist, Sylvain Charlebois, dean of management and professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University in Halifax, writes that the food industry needs to capitalize on the growing number of single people in Canada.

Packaged snack trends

The blurring of lines between a meal and a snack continues as more and more busy Canadians skip traditional sit-down meals in favour of something they can grab on the go or at work. Of course, this is good news for vending companies who are ready with what those busy snack-meal eaters want.

Mobile app records our erratic eating habits

La Jolla, CA – Most people eat for 15 hours or longer, with less than a quarter of the day’s calories being consumed before noon and more than a third consumed after 6 p.m., says a recent study published in Cell Metabolism. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies reports. | READ MORE