Joan Driggs

SUMMARY INNOVATION REMAINS STRONG IN PANDEMIC TIMES By Lisa Maas and Joan Driggs, IRI Each year, IRI analyzes the top food and nonfood CPG brand launches. IRI New Product Pacesetters™ provide a glimpse into what is resonating most with consumers and the trends CPG manufacturers and retailers should watch for success moving forward.

Walmart and Google’s recent announcement that they’ve partnered to bring voice-activated grocery shopping to consumers using Google Assistant comes as little surprise as the two mega brands continue to challenge Amazon.com's vise-like grip on the online shopping arena.

Significant winter storms; heavy snow accumulation; hazardous cold; record rainfalls. About the only soft spot for much of the country this winter has been the low incidence of flu. The IRI Illness Tracking solution, which maps the progress of six common ailments — including flu, respiratory ailments and seasonal allergies — indicates that the traditional flu season is creeping up into fall and lasting until late spring.