Walmart

Michael Angelo's improved its already strong manufacturing capabilities to compete effectively in meeting the consumer-driven demand for good-tasting, quality prepared foods.

An overwhelming majority of Walmart shoppers no longer believe that it has the lowest prices. While the world's largest retailer is certainly not going to disappear, it seems to no longer dominate the U.S. retail landscape. Should consumer product companies re-evaluate the way they do business with Walmart?

A partnership with SymphonyIRI Group will allow Walmart and its supplier partners to share the same knowledge about Walmarts shoppers. Through better shopper insights, both parties can work together to improve planning, shopper marketing and growth.

Buddig has already gone live with Kroger and will continue the roll-out of Datalliance VMI with other key retail partners.

New and existing locations, totaling about 500 stores, will provide access to fresh and healthy food in more than 700 food deserts and will serve approximately 1.3 million people living in these areas.

The agreement marks Walmarts return to the CPG industrys information-sharing model. The majority of U.S. food, drug, mass, convenience and dollar store retailers already provide Nielsen with sales information.

In 2010, a breakthrough new report proved that downstream data is a key initiative for consumer goods companies and retailers alike. This year, CGT is polling both trading partners again to determine how much headway has been made in data sharing strategies.