The new normal? U.S. food expenditure patterns and the changing structure of food retailing

The article focuses on the US food expenditure patterns and the changing structure of food retailing. Consumer time use data related to food preparation and shopping are also analyzed. The second major section uses industry reports to look at impacts on food shopper behavior, retail formats, private-label sales, and commercial food service. The major impacts have been on grocery shopper behavior, grocery store formats, especially the continuing growth of supercenters and limited-assortment stores, the increase of private-label sales, and the decline in demand confronting many commercial food service operators. The sales of private-label, also referred to as store-brand, grocery products have been steadily growing, representing a good example of the 'NewNormal' in that private label loyalties appear here to stay. Private-label products on average sell for about one-third less than the equivalent national brands, such as General Mills and Kraft.