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When consumers shopped the aisles of different retail channels during the past couple of months as they prepared for the holidays, product assortments and even store environments probably started to seem the same after a while.

Forbes Consulting Group, Lexington, Mass., announced that holiday shoppers who read online reviews, and generally feel they were useful, are more likely to feel fulfilled about their overall purchase.

It’s that time of year where homes and businesses get in the holiday spirit with decorations, festive music and tasty treats. The consumer packaged goods (CPG) market is no stranger to this holiday inspiration including limited-edition products and packaging. However, adding these seasonal items to a retailer’s merchandising plans adds a special consideration during this time of year.

In today’s fast-paced world with little down time, consumers are looking for quick, in-and-out shopping trips that fit into their busy lifestyles, says Susan Viamari, editor of thought leadership at Information Resources Inc. (IRI), Chicago.

Sonic Drive-In, Oklahoma City, Okla., introduced new Sonic Splash Hand-Crafted Sodas that offer customers a lighter artisanal beverage option, the company says. Sonic Splash sodas are made to order to guests’ taste specifications, starting with sparkling filtered water and infused with a selection of real fruit or fruit flavors.

With more than 2,500 different paths to purchase, it’s no surprise that consumers are changing how they shop, where they shop and when they shop.

American consumers’ desires for organic products continue to gain steam. According to data from the Washington, D.C.-based Organic Trade Association (OTA), sales of organic products reached $35.1 billion in 2013, an increase of 11.5 percent compared with the previous year.

Approximately one-fifth (21 percent) of consumers today say that beverages play a very important role in deciding which restaurants to visit for meals, according to Technomic Inc., Chicago.

Despite the number of hurdles that it has faced within the past year, the convenience store channel still is holding steady, experts note.

Kraft Foodservice, a division of Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Group Inc., is offering free merchandising racks for its Mio liquid water enhancers. Designed to boost bottled water sales at foodservice locations, the company is offering two options: a hitchhiker rack or a cooler door rack.