SUMMARY The drug channel faces major headwinds as shoppers shift to value channels amid inflation to save money. Waning COVID-19 concerns are another drag on channel performance since retailers saw a sales boost when new variants emerged and at-home tests became available. This IRI report looks at key emerging trends for the channel and shares recommendations for drug retailers on how to attract and keep customers in this challenging landscape. Highlights The alleviation of COVID-19 has decreased channel traffic and purchases, but those now purchasing in the drug channel do so more frequently. Retailers should focus on strategies for products with everyday relevance, especially in health and wellness. Having a full portfolio available via e-commerce will be a key strategy for private label growth. Retailers should also consider e-commerce platforms as a way for consumers to connect with pharmacists. Drug retailers should continue to leverage professional services and develop strategies to grow front-end sales to shoppers coming in for urgent care and minute clinic visits. Report no longer available

SUMMARY Thanksgiving is the second-largest holiday in terms of sales uplift for food and beverage retailers, surpassed only by Christmas. Inflation will make the average Thanksgiving meal cost nearly 14% more this year, with various holiday staples showing varying degrees of inflation. The new edition of IRI’s Thanksgiving Tracker shares the latest year-over-year inflation figures by category and examines the historical sales by category in the runup to the holiday. It also highlights current trends in consumer Thanksgiving shopping and some Thanksgiving dinner deals from major retailers. Highlights The Thanksgiving meal product set — including meats, side dishes, pies, baking products and beverages — experiences billions of dollars in sales uplift from the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving through December. Despite inflation, shoppers aren’t yet buying early to spread the cost or seeking deals associated with Thanksgiving. Overall, 56% of shoppers report that fewer items they want are on sale now, and 44% say that items on sale are not discounted as much as they used to be. Retailer deals include a Walmart promotion setting Thanksgiving basics at 2021 prices and Lidl’s and Aldi’s promotions of a Thanksgiving dinner for up to 10 people for less than $30.

SUMMARY Which brands are growing in this highly inflationary environment? What are the growth strategies that these brands are deploying successfully? And how can you adopt these approaches to accelerate your brand’s growth in today’s environment? Learn the answers to these questions and more in a report from IRI’s KK Davey and Ray Florio based on their webinar on the topic. They examine several detailed case studies from some of today’s top-performing brands, discuss the key learnings they illustrate, and share the top strategies that comprise a go-to playbook for accelerating CPG brand growth through 2023 and beyond. HIGHLIGHTS At-home food and beverage consumption remains resilient and is likely to increase in 2023 because of inflation and despite falling volumes. Small and private label brands have been gaining share over larger competitors. Consumers are willing to pay for new flavor, ethnic and indulgent experiences. Brands are also winning by leveraging their supply chain advantages, maintaining ingredient integrity and transparency, leveraging better-for-you claims, and focusing on strengthening brand equity.

SUMMARY As Turkey Day draws near, inflation remains a top concern, with data for week ending November 6 revealing 19% of all consumers and 30% of Gen Z and younger millennial shoppers worried about being able to afford their typical meal. IRI’s latest data indicates that traditional Thanksgiving basket items will cost 14.2% more than a year ago, led by inflation of sides, which are up 18.1%. The final weekly edition of IRI’s 2023 Thanksgiving Tracker takes a deep dive into how American consumers are shopping for, preparing, celebrating and affording their Thanksgiving get-togethers in this inflationary year. HIGHLIGHTS A third of core Thanksgiving Day home-prepared entrées are completely homemade, leaving plenty of room for shortcuts and premade dishes. More than 18% of Thanksgiving meals last year were sourced from a restaurant. Of those, nearly 77% were eaten off-premises. This year, 62% of those surveyed plan to eat the big meal at home, 22% at a family member’s home, 5% at a restaurant and 3% at a friend’s place. As the holiday nears, roughly half of shoppers say they are still finding fewer deals (54%) and shallower discounts (49%) compared to prior years.

SUMMARY While consumers have historically turned to private brand (also referred to as store brand or private label) products during challenging economic times, they’ve made only modest gains this year. Yet, nearly all U.S. households purchase store brand products, whether intentionally or not. This report explores trends in private brands, including information on Store Brand Loyalists, who tend to be of median household income and older. This report also identifies retailer opportunities to increase demand for their own-brand and private label offerings. Importantly, consumers increasingly say that store brands influence where they choose to shop.

SUMMARY As grocery retailers created safe shopping environments at the start of the pandemic, removing in-store displays was among the first space-creating initiatives. Manufacturers also scaled back on merchandising and promotional strategies in favor of production. This IRI report provides an overview and outlook for the grocery channel’s in-store merchandising displays. HIGHLIGHTS Since 2017, there has been a gradual decline of in-store displays, and the grocery channel has lost 10 displays per store. Some edible departments, such as salty snacks and energy drinks, have recovered displays but remain below 2019 levels. The store loop has lost 13 displays on average compared to pre-pandemic, with candy, cookies, and crackers most likely to lose display presence. As display space remains challenged, retailers and manufacturers will continue to refine strategies and ensure the right categories get display space.

SUMMARY At-home food inflation slowed in November to 0.3% versus October but remains up 13.2% versus year ago (YA). Inflation across perimeter products was up 8.2% versus YA, while center-store inflation (including snacks and frozen foods) is levelling off but still up 14.9% versus YA. IRI’s November 2022 price check report examines retail food and beverage price inflation across all major categories to reveal great variance in inflation across product segments. It also shares detailed Thanksgiving holiday data on inflation, promotion and consumption levels. Observations: As food inflation moderates in the center-store categories, prices in the perimeter categories remain more volatile and increased more last month. Promotion and consumption levels for Thanksgiving main dishes and pies increased slightly this year. Several product categories — including root vegetables, bacon, butter/margarine/spreads and chocolate candy — declined significantly in price versus October.

SUMMARY U.S. inflation lessened in the closing months of 2022, but price-per-unit increases continued in the convenience and multi-outlet retailer (MULO) channels. Convenience channel YOY dollar sales growth slowed in Q4 2022 to 3.3%, far lower than the 9.5% MULO growth that outpaced all other channels for the quarter. IRI’s new report, “The Convenience Store Landscape Q4 2022,” explores the latest trends in the convenience channel and takes a detailed look at how those trends compare to the broader MULO landscape. It also shares the most promising growth opportunities for c-store retailers in this environment. Highlights The convenience channel increased YOY sales dollars by 3.3% for the year, but its dollar share of MULO+C decreased to 17.6% in 2022 from 18.2% in 2021. As in previous quarters, the convenience channel outperformed MULO in Q4 2022 versus Q4 2021 in cigarette (-4.5% vs. -6.3%) and beer (+5.1% vs. +2.2%) sales. Customers averaged 7.5% more c-store trips in 2022 versus 2021, but dollars and units per trip are down for most recent months. Promotional depth and frequency will be critical in 2023 as consumers prioritize sales and deals. Private label dollar share in c-stores grew YOY from 9.4% to 9.9% but lags other retail channels. Increased assortments and low opening price points in key categories can spur additional growth in 2023. Growth in c-store foodservice breakfast traffic outpaced QSR restaurants in 2022. Expanded fresh offerings and combo meals can further boost share in this valuable daypart. Report no longer available

Report finds premium products and experimentation with ready-to-drink cocktails are key to winning with shoppers CHICAGO – Aug. 4, 2022 – New research from IRI®, which recently merged with The NPD Group, reveals elevated at-home beverage alcohol consumption is here to stay. Despite high inflation concerns, retail price increases for beverage alcohol remain more moderate than other CPG categories. IRI’s 2022 Midyear Alcohol Update highlights that many consumers are opting to celebrate and socialize at home, especially given challenges in on-premise, driven by labor shortages, rising prices and reduced menus. Insights from the new report can enable retailers and manufacturers to make better merchandising and promotional activity decisions to enhance the shopper experience and drive growth and profitability. “Consumption trends continue to fluctuate with the impact of supply chain challenges and rising inflation, but opportunities for growth remain,” said Scott Scanlon, executive vice president of the Beverage Alcohol Vertical, IRI. “This report provides an outlook on the state of the beverage alcohol industry and areas ripe for innovation. Consumers are looking to indulge and create entertaining experiences at home, and retailers should emphasize premium products and products with unique attributes in this space.” Other key findings of IRI consumer research revealed: As consumers adopt healthier habits, better-for-you beverage alcohol options and alternative alcohol products continue to gain traction. New twists on familiar favorites, interesting flavor combinations and contemporary claims are popular with consumers. Premium beer and wine and super-premium spirits continue to drive growth. E-commerce remains a viable channel for beer. Implications and opportunities for growth include: With increasing inflation and rising competition among retail outlets, promotions will be an essential strategy in retaining shoppers. Ready-to-drink cocktails are a growth opportunity, but brands need to have a point of differentiation. Marketing should focus on giving consumers options and inspiration for at-home entertaining occasions. E-commerce is an integral part of a consumer's shopping experience and is important for omnichannel success. Find the full report on IRI’s website here . ABOUT IRI IRI unifies technology, analytics and data to reinvent how people and companies make decisions, take action and optimize performance. With the largest repository of purchase, media, social, causal and loyalty data, all integrated into an on-demand, cloud-based technology platform, IRI helps to guide its more than 5,000 clients around the world in their quests to capture market share, connect with consumers, collaborate with key constituents and deliver market-leading growth. For more information, visit www.iriworldwide.com . IRI Contact: Shelley Hughes Email: Shelley.Hughes@IRIworldwide.com Phone: +1 312.731.1782

Port Washington, NY, August 4, 2022 — The NPD Group today announced that Dealerscope has named Molly Putnam, vice president, analytics, and Chloe Cook, executive director, consumer technology, to its annual “40 Under 40” list. The individuals recognized this year were nominated by their industry peers and selected by Dealerscope’s team. At NPD, Putnam works with manufacturers, retailers, and platforms to deliver prescriptive analytics across all stages of the research journey. Using forecasting, pricing analytics, buyer analytics, and other tools, she and her team address the most critical business issues facing NPD partners in the consumer technology, B2B technology, mobile, video games, and office supplies industries. As executive director in NPD’s Consumer Technology practice, Cook leads NPD’s partnership with a technology industry leader. Her efforts and collaboration both internally and with the client have led to successful projects that provide her client with the tools and insights needed to drive their business forward. “Congratulations to Chloe, Molly, and all others recognized by Dealerscope in this year’s ‘40 Under 40’ list,” said Brad van Dillen, president of the Consumer Technology practice at NPD. “In her nearly five years with NPD, Chloe has established herself as a go-to resource for tech clients and colleagues. She is analytical, curious, and eager to help others find their footing in the tech industry.” “Molly has played an instrumental role in building a strong portfolio of solutions for our Technology sector clients, ensuring they have visibly into how consumers shop to inform their business decisions,” said Patty Altman, executive vice president, analytics at NPD. “Beyond delivering for clients, colleagues are inspired by Molly’s fearlessness. She looks at challenges and dives in with a plan to win – in doing so she rallies the team and all of those around her.” Dealerscope’s “40 Under 40” list is featured on the Dealerscope website . It includes career histories and thoughts from the winners on their career paths and the future of the tech industry.

Unit sales are up 2% year over year Port Washington, NY, August 5, 2022 – According to The NPD Group, back-to-school sales are seeing early growth in the office supplies industry with unit sales up 2% through the first three weeks of the season compared to last year (three weeks ending July 23, 2022, excluding storage categories as well as janitorial and breakroom supplies). This unit sales increase is being driven by sales in the e-commerce channel for school list items. In fact, e-commerce unit sales are up 35% year over year, after a 2% decline for the same period last year that resulted from consumers returning to stores and strong e-commerce performance in 2020. Revenue sales are up 4%, which is in line with NPD’s Future of Office Supplies forecast expectation of a 6% revenue growth during the third quarter (Q3) of 2022. Top selling categories from a unit sales perspective include crayons, portfolios, and color markers. “Unit performance this back-to-school season has been stronger than anticipated and the growth in e-commerce speaks to the importance of a digital strategy and omni-retail strategy in promoting convenience for the office and school supplies consumer throughout the season,” said Leen Nsouli , executive director and office supplies industry analyst for NPD. “We expect the brick-and-mortar channel will see dollar growth as we near the mid-season period, as more consumers head out to stores to take advantage of back-to-school promotions, tax-free holidays, and prepare for the return to classrooms.” #Backtoschool

Chicago, August 8, 2022 — Business and Industry (B&I) foodservice operations, like worksite cafeterias, are recovering from pandemic losses as more employees return to worksites. In the quarter ending June 2022, broadline foodservice distributors increased their case unit shipments to B&I foodservice operators by 35% compared to a year ago, reports The NPD Group . Broadline foodservice dollars shipped to B&I operators grew by 60% in the second quarter versus a year ago. Customer visits to B&I foodservice outlets, excluding vending, increased by 25% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago. B&I foodservice operators in the Pacific Census Division, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington, had the most volume and significant increase in case shipments from broadline foodservice distributors, with case shipments up 61% and dollars shipped up 74% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago. The Middle Atlantic Census Division, which includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, ranked second with B&I broadline foodservice case shipments up 55%; and dollars shipped up 87% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago, according to NPD’s  SupplyTrack , which continually tracks shipments and revenue from broadline foodservice distributors to commercial and non-commercial foodservice outlets.   The food and beverages shipped to B&I foodservice operations represent a broad spectrum to appeal to various customers’ tastes. Notably are shipments of foods and beverages with high growth that reflect popular trends—for example, the well-publicized plant-based proteins category. Broadline foodservice case shipments of plant-based proteins to B&I foodservice operators increased by 132% in the quarter compared to a year ago. The popularity of chicken shows up in B&I case shipments, up 39% in the second quarter compared to a year ago. The return to worksites also signals the return of breakfast away from home. Case shipments of breakfast categories, like bacon, bakery, cereal, coffee, and eggs, grew from 30% to 75% in the quarter ending June versus a year ago, reports NPD. “B&I is an important growth segment for foodservice manufacturers and their foodservice distributor partners,” says Tim Fires, president of NPD’s SupplyTrack. “The segment’s growth is impressive and a signal for what to expect in the fall when more office workers return to a regular schedule after summer vacations.”