Domestic sales of craft beers have grown to more than $27 billion annually, representing about a quarter of the American beer market. “Sunday Morning” producer Sara Kugel talked with Marcus Doucet, who opened Manchester, N.H.’s Backyard Brewery, one of more than 7,000 craft breweries in the U.S.
Category Archives: Retail
Technology: “Amazon Empire” (Frontline Video)
An inside look at how Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos built one of the largest and most influential economic forces in the world — and the cost of Amazon’s convenience.
Jeff Bezos is not only the richest man in the world, he has built a business that is without precedent in the history of American capitalism. His power to shape everything from the future of work to the future of commerce to the future of technology is unrivaled. As politicians and regulators around the world start to consider the global impact of Amazon — and how to rein in Bezos’ power — FRONTLINE investigates how he executed a plan to build one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world.
Trends: “Nuro” Receives First Self-Driving Delivery Vehicle Exemption (USDOT)
From a Nuro online Blog news release (February 6, 2020):
Today, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved a regulatory exemption for R2, Nuro’s second-generation vehicle. As the first company to be granted approval for a self-driving vehicle exemption, it’s an important moment for Nuro and a milestone for the industry. Under Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao’s leadership, DOT is advancing a future of improved safety, mobility, and commerce.
This decision provides regulatory certainty for Nuro to operate our second-generation self-driving vehicle, built to carry packages instead of people. We custom-designed R2 to enrich local commerce with last-mile delivery of consumer products, groceries, and hot food from local stores and restaurants. With its specially designed size, weight, pedestrian-protecting front end, operating speed, electric propulsion, and cautious driving habits, R2 is ready to begin service as a socially responsible neighborhood vehicle that you can trust. In the coming weeks, R2 will begin public road testing to prepare for its first deliveries to customers’ homes with our partners in Houston, Texas. With this vehicle, we can also bring our service to new cities, so more Americans can benefit from safe, efficient, convenient on-demand deliveries.
Restaurant Trends: “The Future Of Food” – What To Expect In Next Ten Years
2020 Super Bowl: Amazon Releases Very Funny “Before Alexa” Ad (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9t2rFmTVE
What did we do #BeforeAlexa? Watch now and vote for your favorite ad on Ad Meter!
Super Bowl Ads: Planters To Kill Off 114-Year Old “Mr. Peanut” (1916 – 2020)
From an AdWeek online article:
“It’s with heavy hearts that we confirm Mr. Peanut has passed away at 104 years old,” said Samantha Hess, brand manager for Planters, in a statement. “He will be remembered as the 
legume who always brought people together for nutty adventures and a good time. We encourage fans to tune in to Mr. Peanut’s funeral during the third quarter of the Super Bowl to celebrate his life.”
In a shocking move, Planters, the Kraft-Heinz-owned snack brand, has killed off its iconic mascot in a teaser for its Big Game spot. Mr. Peanut’s untimely demise began with a Nutmobile crash, followed by falling off a cliff and ending in an explosion.
In the 30-second teaser, Mr. Peanut is driving his signature Nutmobile around a winding cliff with actors Matt Walsh (Veep) and Wesley Snipes in the front and back seat, respectively. Walsh spots an armadillo in the road, and Mr. Peanut swerves—right off the cliff.
Self-Checkout Tech: “Trigo Vision” Uses 3-D Imaging + AI For “Scan-And-Go” Shopping (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzhJc6uVFs
Trigo’s network of ceiling-mounted cameras sees what no other system can see. We create a 3D image of the shop-floor environment, and map the movement of every object as consumers shop.
Our proprietary algorithms and neural networks enable a frictionless shopping experience, where consumers can enter the store, pick and leave.
Fastest-Growing Chains: “BurgerIM” Restaurants Offer 11 Protein Options
From a Restaurant Business online article (December 2019):
With 11 protein options for its burgers (including salmon, lamb, falafel and dry-aged beef), two patty sizes and a host of toppings, Burgerim—which increased its unit count by nearly 250% in 2018 to become the country’s fastest-growing emerging chain—is upping the complexity of the traditional burger concept.
The quick-service chain, which has now nearly 200 units (up from 80 in 2018) and another 350 in the “active conception” pipeline, is focusing on training and systems to ensure all those burger variations get executed properly, says Collette Kakuk, Burgerim’s VP of marketing.
Shopping: Albertsons And Takeoff Technologies Launch EGrocery “Micro-Fulfillment” Centers
From and Albertson Companies online news release:
“The micro-fulfillment center model is a key element in the store of the future,” said Vivek Sankaran, Albertsons Companies President and Chief Executive Officer. “It combines the efficiency of automation with the ease of meeting customers when and how they want to shop. In working with Takeoff, we can evolve how the MFC ties into our store and e-commerce ecosystems and accelerate our path to best serve our customers.”
December 12, 2019 – Albertsons Companies and Takeoff Technologies are teaming up to collaborate on the future of grocery micro-fulfillment centers (MFC). The two companies have decided to form a strategic partnership with dedicated teams to collaborate on the evolution of the microfulfillment capabilities to drive the future of e-commerce order fulfillment.
Albertsons Cos., which operates stores in 8 out of 10 of the largest MSA’s in the United States, has also agreed to purchase additional MFCs from Takeoff and is evaluating market expansion opportunities. Albertsons Cos. and Takeoff worked closely together on the successful implementation of the company’s first MFC in South San Francisco in October 2019.
To read more: https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/newsroom/12-12-19-albertsons-companies-takeoff-develop-strategic-partnership.html
Shopping: Largest Online Secondhand Clothing Retailer “Thredup” Wins “Disruptor Of The Year”
From a RetailDive.com online article:
ThredUp, which sells brands ranging from American Eagle Outfitters to Burberry, may prove to be a beneficial partner to many retailers. A separate report from Accenture Strategy and Fashion For Good found that recommerce operating margin for the luxury, premium and mid-market sectors was 39%, 28% and 22%, respectively.
This year could be considered the year the circular economy really took hold, particularly the resale space, and a major force leading the charge was e-commerce 
platform ThredUp.
Resale grew 21 times faster than the apparel market over the past three years, by ThredUp’s own measures. The resale platform also projects the market to grow from $24 billion to $51 billion by 2023.
To read more: https://www.retaildive.com/news/disruptor-thredup-dive-awards/566185/
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