Retail

Market research group IRI explained Wednesday in a presentation titled “Consumer Demand for Private Brands” that a tougher economic climate could provide a boon to retailers hoping to expand their private label footprint as shoppers become more cost-conscious.

Organic kids food brand Plum Organics has fully redesigned its packaging across its entire portfolio that graphically represents the different products’ offerings.

Dirty Hands, one of the CPG industry’s largest merchandising firms, laid off employees from across the company last week in a move to refocus its business on the natural channel.

Shelf-stable, direct-to-consumer meal brand Proper Good has closed a $3.5 million seed funding round to support its recent expansion into brick and mortar retail with a rollout to over 2,000 Walmart stores nationwide.

United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) has teamed up with software provider Cornerstone for Natural to introduce Smart Shelf Tags built with its proprietary ELi technology, which purportedly offer a more secure and enhanced version of a QR Code.

In response to ever-increasing prices, consumers are adapting to the evolving economy by modifying both their everyday and holiday grocery habits.

In this roundup: Blue Apron activates subscription-free Amazon store; Tom’s Perfect 10 secures shelf space at Foxtrot; Cometeer inks a deal for second retail partnership, SorBabes expands with novelty bars and more.

Gut-friendly snackbar brand BelliWelli is making its first major foray into retail with a national rollout at Sprouts this week after primarily selling its probiotic, low FODMAP-certified snack bars direct-to-consumer sales for the past year.

Kroger will purchase fellow grocery retailer Albertsons in a $24.6 billion deal that has left members of the industry wondering about the long term ramifications for brands and shoppers.

Gopuff is delivering news of a new partnership with restaurant to-go platform Grubhub and a launch of a new health and wellness private label brand called Goodnow.