Jane Hoback

Articles by Jane Hoback

Online, delivery and drive-thru retailing strategies are fast, easy and convenient for customers, but are they worth your time as a natural grocer?

Green your store's refrigeration to cut emissions and costs

Put the freeze on store pollution with new greener refrigeration technologies.

Natural retailers ring up healthy sales in 2010

Recent sales data from the Natural Foods Merchandiser 2010 Market Overview show that despite the economy, the natural retailers' core customer has continued to buy. Which categories enjoyed an increase in 2010?

NFM Market Overview 2011: Profit margins suffer

As inflation took its toll, storewide gross profit margins were down slightly in 2010, but successful retailers were those who discovered inexpensive means of promotion and advertising.

NFM Market Overview 2011: Customers return, some categories improve

Natural retailers participating in this year’s Natural Foods Merchandiser’s Market Overview reported average overall sales growth of 5.2 percent in 2010. Some categories such as produce and dairy experienced robust double-digit growth signaling that shoppers are returning to natural stores.

NFM Market Overview 2011: Natural products store sales up 7 percent in 2010 1

The natural and organic products industry is alive and well, according to Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine’s 2010 Market Overview. The industry grew 7 percent over 2009, showing that consumers are spending again and that naturals are moving in the right direction.

Q&A: Bob Burke, founder of Natural Products Consulting in Andover, Mass.

Where is the natural products retail market headed and what obstacles does the market face?

State of the supplements industry 2010

Sales of vitamins and dietary supplements grew 9.2 percent to $3 billion in 2010. But while some supplements categories posted big gains, others showed signs of weakening.

Growing food safety concerns could be boon for naturals

Food safety concerns may be good news for the natural and organic industry, even if consumers hold retailers more responsible for communicating recalls.

Battle brews over debit card swipe fees

Grocers battle the financial industry over new rules limiting the fees banks can charge to process debit card transactions.

Rising commodity costs put pressure on natural manufacturers 1

An increase in food and commodity prices are forcing natural and organic food companies into an unavoidable dilemma: raise the price of their products or charge the same amount for smaller portions.