5 things: Are consumers burnt out on choices?

When covid cuts into choice: Many companies reduced product options during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease pain in the supply chain…But just because the pandemic is over doesn’t mean those choices aren’t coming back, according to this Wall Street Journal article. Coca-Cola, for instance, now offers half as many drinks as it did several years ago. CPG companies say the many options weren’t worth the cost, and consumers don’t seem to miss the myriad of options. According to data from tech company Shelf Engine, large grocery stores have reduced fresh-food offerings such as fruit, dairy products and deli meats by 15% to 20%. Those reductions allow grocers to save money because they have fewer items to manage, and the slimming of product options is also reducing food waste. Who doesn’t win? The shopper looking for an “Honest Tea” drink, one of Coca-Cola’s fallen soldiers. RIP pre-COVID products of yore. —Chloe Riley

A Costco who cares: Back in December, workers at a Costco in Norfolk, Va. made the move to organize in an effort to improve working conditions. What they got in return from upper management was a pledge to do better. Costco’s former CEO Craig Jelinek and current CEO Ron Vachris teamed up to send an email to the 238 employees and the email made concessions about the management’s own shortcomings. “The fact that a majority of Norfolk employees felt that they wanted or needed a union constitutes a failure on our part,” read the email. “We’re disappointed in ourselves as managers and leaders.” Any time those at the top of the corporate ladder can take a look in the mirror, it’s always a good thing. —Bill Wilson

A horse is a horse, of course! Happy trails to you…until we meet in a supermarket. That’s right, a pair of horseback riders took to the aisles of a Holiday Market in Cool (I mean, with a town name like that, do we really need to ask if this defines cool?), Calif., on New Year’s Eve and made several purchases in the self-checkout line. No reports on whether the riders dismantled to ring up everything. Of course, a store employee captured the escapade via video and posted it to social media. The horses also left their own, ahem, “product” on the store floor, which had to be immediately cleaned up. The state of California does not allow live animals in grocery stores unless they are service dogs, but this Holiday Market always makes room for the horses and their riders. Yee-haw! —BW

Bull in a china shop? Try elephant in a grocery store: A grocery store in the Bangladesh port city of Chittagong rang in the new year with a bang, when an elephant made an early morning trip to the store, according to a story in the Dhaka Tribune. The incident took place at about 5 a.m. on Dec. 31, Md Abdul Hakim told the newspaper. “While I was asleep in the shop, the elephant struck, breaking the shop’s grill. Although I managed to escape unharmed upon awakening, the elephant damaged my shop’s rice, wheat, sugar, flour, and husks, resulting in a substantial loss...” Hakim filed a report with local police, but there’s still no word on whether the perpetrator has been apprehended. —Timothy Inklebarger

H-E-B sells $34M lottery ticket: If you live in Austin, Texas, and purchased a lottery ticket at H-E-B, you might just be a multimillionaire and not even know it. The popular Texas-based grocery chain sold the jackpot prize ticket worth $34 million on Dec. 30, but the buyer has not yet come forward, according to multiple news stories. The ticket was bought at the H-E-B at 7025 Village Center Drive, but the buyer, if they ever realize they’re holding the ticket, chose the cash option for the jackpot, meaning they’ll only receive $20.2 million before taxes. (Not to mention that until the ticket is cashed, the H-E-B store misses out on its 5% sales commission!) A story in the San Antonio Express-News noted that it’s the fourth unclaimed multi million lottery ticket sold in the state since November, so check your tickets now, y’all. —TI

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Consumers are getting less choices, from both CPG companies and grocery. According to data from tech company Shelf Engine, large grocery stores have reduced fresh-food offerings such as fruit, dairy products and deli meats by 15% to 20%. So far, consumers don’t seem to mind having less procust choices. Is this trend going to continue? Or will consumers soon want their million options back? 

Let us know in the comments below, or email your thoughts to the SN staff at [email protected]. Be sure to include your full name and work title.