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Following up on last year’s new standards for school meals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled its new “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards that will affect food and beverages sold in vending machines and a la carte.

The foodservice industry tends to be a leading indicator of how well the economy is going to perform, says Joe Pawlak, vice president of Chicago-based Technomic Inc.

Imagine having the ability to pick up a beverage and examine it without ever touching it. Thanks to next-generation vending machines, this idea of virtual selection is becoming a reality.

Similar to how fast food restaurants added dollar or value menus in order to entice consumers, the value proposition for discount retailers has helped dollar retail chains gain market share against traditional retail formats.

Similar to how college basketball coaches instituted end-of-game timeouts in order to strategize a “sure-fire” inbounds play during March Madness, retailers and brand owners are calling their own plays when it comes to merchandising. Retailers and brand owners have taken a methodical approach to different merchandising tactics for brands and categories in order to engage consumers and stimulate purchase behavior, experts note.

For cold and flu season, allergy season and everything in between, drug stores provide consumers with the advice and relief they need for their ailments.

 Whether it’s the ambiance, celebrity sightings, exclusivity, cocktails or a combination of all of the above that attract consumers to nightclubs, it’s clear that the “cool factor” is a must-have for success.  

 By offering a wide variety of items such as food, beverages, health products and more, supermarkets have managed to remain relatively stable in terms of store performance during the last year, experts suggest.  

 According to IBISWorld’s July 2012 report, “Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters in the US,” supercenters are one of the fastest-growing industries in the retail sector and have shown consistent growth during the last five years.  

For the first time in more than 15 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new standards for school meals, including beverages.