The prospect of using a mobile phone to make purchases could change the shape of consumer-business interaction in the coming years, as new technology offers the potential for consumers to house credit and other card information on their mobile phones. Europe’s largest trial of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology on mobile phones, conducted by research firm GFK and commissioned by O2 (a leading UK communications company), has revealed strong consumer demand for such services. Nine out... ...Read more »

A new kind of supermarket is gaining notoriety in Europe. The products remain the same, the staff are still there, but there are some clear distinguishing features. The ‘pensioner-friendly’ supermarket, which directly targets senior citizens, will incorporate a host of changes to the average outlet - from wider aisles to brighter lighting, clearer signage and relaxation areas. German supermarket chain Kaiser’s was one of the first to introduce such stores and their popularity has... ...Read more »

A study by Unilever, one of the world’s leading consumer products companies, reveals how different demographic groups in America will change their shopping habits as belts continue to tighten during challenging economic times. More than 30 per cent of consumers are eating at home more and eating out less and 40 per cent feel worse off than a year ago as shoppers continue to grapple with managing their budgets during uncertain economic times, according to the new study - ‘Winning Shoppers... ...Read more »

The US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has discovered that the use of nutritional labels by American consumers has fallen since the mid nineties. The only increase in interest by consumers came with regard to fibre. Packaged and processed foods sold in the United States began carrying standardized nutrition labels in 1994. A standardized ‘Nutrition Facts’ panel, standardized serving sizes and limits on the content and format of health and nutrition claims on the... ...Read more »

The UK’s leading retailer, Tesco, has unveiled a “£5 a day” meal plan, which will highlight to consumers the potential to feed a family of four for such a low cost as consumers begin to struggle with the high cost of living expenses. A Tesco chef has created a special seven day meal plan including meat, pasta, ice cream and enough fruit and vegetables to merit each family member getting three healthy meals including their five vegetable portions a day. The chef’s menu comes... ...Read more »

Good corporate citizenship reflected by ethical labour, environmental and social practices cannot be ignored by companies looking to differentiate themselves in a competitive market, according to a new survey conducted by TNS Canadian Facts. A key factor in the success of a business over the long term is the trust that is built between the company and consumers. Businesses that breach that trust can often suffer the consequences. In fact, about half of Canadians (49 per cent) say that they are... ...Read more »

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a US-based advocacy group, has claimed that nearly every single possible combination of the childrens meals offered by America’s leading* fast-food chains are too high in calories. According to the CSPI, 93 per cent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 leading fast food restaurant chains exceed 430 calories - an amount that is one-third of what the Institute of Medicine recommends that children aged four through eight should consume in a day. The... ...Read more »

Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of American consumers say they notice nutritional information on food packaging more often now compared to two years ago, according to a new global online survey by The Nielsen Company. Nielsen also discovered that, while two-thirds (67 per cent) of US consumers claim to “mostly” understand the nutritional information on food packaging, less than half (44 per cent) of global consumers suggest they do. “As obesity rates continue to rise globally... ...Read more »

UK PR company Kaizo has established Danone as the number one food brand on the web, according to the Kaizo Advocacy Index - which establishes the impact of online word of mouth. The Index searches links generated by Google and takes into account web, news, groups and blog content. The content is analyzed and assigned as either negative (detractor), neutral (passive) or positive (promoter), with the overall company rating based on subtracting the percentage of promoters from detractors. Due to the... ...Read more »

Scientists in the UK are calling for the Government to allow them to keep sites for GM crop trials a secret in the wake of continued vandalising of crops by protesters. Under current European Union rules the sites of GM trials are required to be disclosed to the public and this has led to most of the 54 sites used in Britain since the turn of the century being damaged at some stage by protesters. Professor Howard Atkinson of Leeds University, whose pest-resistant potato study was destroyed in June,... ...Read more »