Industry News
All Sally Lyons Wyatt News
Top stories summarized by our editors
Top stories summarized by our editors

Fizzy drink sales bubble up in c-stores

9/15/2021

Nonalcoholic carbonated beverages are growing convenience-store dollar sales with energy drink sales increasing nearly 15% in 2021 as of June 13, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president at IRI. Sparkling and seltzer water sales grew by double digits during this year's first half, according to IRI.

RTD, cold brew categories heat up coffee sales

8/31/2021

Consumer demand for convenience has driven sales of ready-to-drink coffee up 21% for the latest 52 weeks, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader at IRI. Cold-brew and nitro formats are strong sellers, said Gary Hemphill, Beverage Marketing Corp.'s managing director of research, with Germany-based Statista projecting cold-brew sales will approach $1 billion by 2025.

Regional variation, return to work influence snack trends

8/26/2021

Snack brands need agility and differentiation due to shifting trends such as demand reviving for smaller pack sizes as people return to work and at-home snacking continuing to increase, IRI executive vice president and practice leader Sally Lyons Wyatt said at SNAXPO21. The snack category will grow up to 4% this year, and demand differentiates by region with rural, suburban and urban areas focused on indulgence, nutrition and health, respectively, said Lyons Wyatt.

IRI: Plan for COVID-related candy sales disruptions

8/18/2021

Confectionery businesses need to prepare for possible disruptions to brick-and-mortar seasonal shopping caused by the spike in Delta variant cases of COVID-19, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, IRI's executive vice president and practice leader, client insights. Now is the time to ensure online availability and search engine optimization, said Lyons Wyatt.

Expert: The future is bright for confectionery, snacks

6/25/2021

Confectionery and snacks are poised for a bright future, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader of IRI, during a session at this week's Sweets & Snacks Expo. Lyons Wyatt shared that snacking is poised to grow 3% to 4% in 2021 and 2022, and customers will be seeking out unique experiences when shopping for products both in-store and online.

Functionality brewing up tea sales growth

6/3/2021

Tea sales increased 11.3% for the 52 weeks ending April 17, with chai tea and iced tea serving as the top ready-to-drink varieties, kombucha sales up 5.5% and black tea leading packaged tea's sales growth of 7.9%. Red, herbal and green sales were up 16%, 15.3% and 7.2%, respectively, and more consumers are turning to tea for its functional attributes, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president at IRI.

On-the-go bar, snack sales set for revival

4/9/2021

Brick-and-mortar sales of individual nutrition bars and other smaller-size snacks are expected to revive this year as consumers hit the road in larger numbers, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president at IRI. Lyons added that bar brands should target younger consumers with messaging focused on convenience.

Behind the growth of the meat snack market

2/11/2021

Meat snack brands will find long-term success by offering a wider variety of flavors, formats, textures and protein sources, while appealing to consumers seeking keto-friendly and sustainable options, according to industry research analysts. "The category is increasingly attractive to female consumers age 35 to 54 because of offerings that appeal to females' interest in holistic health and flavor experiences," said Sally Lyons Wyatt with IRI.

Tips for reviving c-store packaged snack sales

1/26/2021

Convenience and drug channels could re-energize packaged snack sales if they carried larger sizes geared toward families, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president at IRI. Brands should consider merchandising in these channels that promotes snacks as meal accompaniments or meal replacements, Lyons Wyatt added.

Balance health, indulgence to revive snack bar sales

1/25/2021

The snack bar category is declining due to a pandemic-related loss in commuter sales, increase in sweets consumption and at-home "snack fatigue," said Sally Lyons Wyatt of IRI. "People want better-for-you options but still really want and demand those snacking indulgences," said Lyons Wyatt, while Lior Lewensztain, founder of clean-label snack brand That's it, said "plant-based anything" is driving consumer demand.