Cadent Consulting Group

When a leading manufacturer had a key customer meeting three weeks out — and needed shopper insights to defend their assortment and support a recent packaging refresh — a traditional research timeline wasn't an option. Here's how RapidQuery™ helped them move from research brief to a retailer-ready, insight-backed presentation in three weeks. #CPG #ShopperInsights #ConsumerResearch #RetailStrategy

The nicotine pouch category is booming, and promotions are following. As manufacturers race to gain share, the risk of training consumers to chase price rather than value is real. We've seen this before with vaping. With convenience trips declining, the stakes are high. Cadent tracks these backbar dynamics closely: value-based promotions, basket-building, and multipacks are the smarter path to protecting margins without eroding brand equity. Full article in Convenience Store News: https://lnkd.in/eus7HDF2 #ConvenienceChannel #Nicotine #PricingStrategy #RetailStrategy #CPG

Regulations around ultra-processed foods, artificial colors, and GLP-1s are reshaping the food landscape — and frozen and refrigerated foods may be better positioned than most to benefit. In his latest column for Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer, Don Stuart explores why the category has a structural advantage as these forces converge: cleaner ingredient lists, fewer preservatives, strong nutrient retention, and resilience to the shifting consumer behaviors driven by GLP-1 adoption. Read the full article in the May 2026 issue of Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer: https://lnkd.in/eyySPvgS #FrozenFood #RefrigeratedFoods #CPG #FutureOfFood #FoodIndustry

When a national dairy manufacturer wanted to move beyond tracking promotional performance to actually optimizing it — understanding elasticity, competitive gaps, and where their trade dollars would work hardest — they needed a structured process to get there. Here's how PromoOPT® helped them translate that analysis into a clear, retailer-specific promotional strategy. #CPG #TradeSpend #PromoOptimization #CategoryGrowth

"From both a retailer and manufacturer perspective, the FDA's withdrawal provides short-term stability," Richard Bode, managing partner of Cadent Consulting Group, told Convenience Store News. "It avoids abrupt regulatory disruption for convenience stores and manufacturers that rely heavily on flavored cigar sales." https://lnkd.in/eUveQPAY

Grocery shoppers are buying more on promotion and trading down on brands. Frozen & prepared meals are among the most deal-driven categories, and retailers like Kroger are responding with expanded private label options that focus on convenience. Our latest industry study breaks down how shopper behavior is shifting and what it means for brands.

Today's shoppers are more "choiceful" than ever — and channel is at the center of that choice. Don Stuart breaks down what this means for manufacturers and retailers in his latest column for Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer, drawing on findings from our 2026 Cadent Industry Survey. Discount grocery, club, and dollar stores are seeing the sharpest rise in visits — and the brands paying attention are the ones positioned to grow. Give it a read via the link below. https://lnkd.in/eGARz5dK #Retail #CPG #ShopperInsights #ChannelStrategy

When a high-growth DTC brand set its sights on brick-and-mortar retail, they needed a pricing and promotion structure grounded in real shopper insight — not assumptions. Here's how PriceSight® helped them move from shopper-based pricing research to a retailer-ready recommendation in under eight weeks. #CPG #PricingStrategy #ShopperInsights #CategoryGrowth

The convenience channel continues to evolve. In this piece from Convenience Store News, Richard Bode and Vasudha Cidambi discuss why small and midsize deals are dominating M&A activity, how geographic diversification is accelerating, and why foodservice integration is becoming a strategic lever. Read more at this link: https://lnkd.in/eCzNCf9B

"Today’s tobacco consumer is not a monolith and the backbar must reflect that." As cigarette volumes decline and modern oral nicotine, pouches, and alternative formats gain momentum, backbar strategy has become far more complex. And far more strategic. In this article from Convenience Store News, Richard Bode outlines why operators must evolve their assortment strategy, closely track velocity and margin performance, and leverage supplier insights to stay competitive in a rapidly shifting nicotine landscape.