Knowing boomers a boon for retailers
A new report shows the 78 million-strong baby boomer demographic might not be as homogenous in their shopping patterns as retailers think. The study, published by market researcher Information Resources Inc., analyzed purchase drivers and behaviors of different segments within the baby boomer generation. The study showed that Americans older than 60 years are leading the spending shift toward shopping supercenters. It also showed that, since 2002, baby boomers without children have increased their food and beverage spending at twice the rate of total category growth.

"Many retailer strategies today assume that boomers are a homogenous group, so their strategies are too general to be effective," said IRI President of Retail Solutions North America and Strategic Consulting Thom Blischok. With the boomer category weighing in as a $46 billion growth opportunity, according to IRI, it's a group worth getting to know.

Go bananas for Mexico
Organics Unlimited, as a promotion to benefit the nonprofit program Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers, will send one retailer and their wholesale supplier each on an all expenses- paid trip for two to Mexico in February. The winning retailer will be the one who sells the most GROW bananas between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. Through a per-box surcharge, the purchase of GROW bananas raises funds for GROW programs.

GROW is a program of San Diego-based Organics Unlimited, distributor of organic tropical fruits from Mexico and South America. It is designed to improve the lives of small farmers and their communities through actions such as building schools, installing water purification systems and bringing electricity to remote areas.

Winners will visit banana plantations to see GROW funds at work and relax on the beach in Puerto Vallarta for three days. For information about the Go Bananas promotion, contact Organics Unlimited at 619.710.0658.

Aurora supports organic ag program
Aurora Organic Dairy, based in Boulder, Colo., is supporting Colorado State University's new organic agriculture program with $1,000 tuition scholarships for every student participating in the program's inaugural year. The program, which kicked off in August, is open to all CSU majors and builds on the basics of general agricultural sciences with additional courses in organic agriculture methods, ecology, management and marketing. Students in the program must complete an internship in the organic industry. Aurora Organic Dairy, producer of private-label and store-brand organic milk and butter, has collaborated with CSU in the past with tasting panels, on-farm internships and farm tours, processing plant tours and other seminars.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVII/number 10/p. 64