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Misfits Market Launches Private Label Brand

Online grocery platform Misfits Market has launched its first private label, Odds & Ends, which includes pantry staples such as coffee and snacks like nuts, dried fruit and dark chocolate-covered mini pretzels.

Many of Misfits Market’s Odds & Ends products have been specifically designed to address supply chain inefficiencies. By working directly with farmers and producers who share the company’s vision of eliminating waste, Misfits Market is taking new steps to prioritize sustainability and utilize creative sourcing methods to offer high-quality staple products at value.

For example, Misfits Market’s new direct trade premium coffee blend is purchased directly from the farms where it was grown in the context of lasting and mutually beneficial relationships, providing growers with fair prices and stable incomes while protecting them from market risk and volatility. The end result is a better market for their coffees and more accessible, high-quality coffee for consumers.

“Three years ago, Misfits Market set out to rebuild the food supply chain from scratch in order to provide everyone, regardless of where they live, access to quality food at an affordable price,” said Abhi Ramesh, CEO and founder. “It’s clear that shoppers are looking for new ways to save, especially with food prices at all-time highs. Our value-conscious customers are saving an average of $25 per order and with the launch of our new private label line, we’re excited to provide our customers with an even wider variety of affordable and sustainably sourced pantry staples.”

To date, the company has sent out nearly 13 million orders and rescued more than 230 million pounds of food. In Q1 alone, the company has experienced record-breaking growth fueled by expanding to all of the lower 48 states, launching product categories such as wine, releasing the brand’s mobile app and now Misfits Market’s private label launch.

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Mark Irby Joins Publix Board of Directors

During Publix’s annual stockholders’ meeting, Mark Irby, retired Publix vice president of marketing, was elected to the company’s board of directors.

Irby began his Publix career in 1973 in the sign shop in Lakeland, Florida. After working in various capacities within that department, in 1983, he transferred into the advertising department as a marketing and research manager. In 1988, he was promoted to director of marketing and advertising, then to vice president of marketing in 1989. He retired earlier this year.

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States with more than 230,000 associates, operates 1,296 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 25 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work.

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Gas, Groceries, Dining Out Top List for Rising Costs

Gasoline, groceries, and dining out top a list of the 12 most acute inflation pain points for consumers today, according to First Insight’s latest study detailing the impacts of inflation on consumer spending.

“Soaring gas and food prices are just the tip of the iceberg for consumers today,” said Greg Petro, CEO. “Record high prices on essential items will negatively impact both consumers’ confidence and their spending power. Some categories, such as apparel, footwear, accessories, travel and entertainment may struggle as consumers cut back on discretionary spending. It will be critically important for companies to remain close to their customer base to predict how they are going to respond to all the changes out there.”

The top 12 categories affecting consumers’ daily lives the most include:

  1. Gas
  2. Groceries
  3. Dining
  4. Vehicle Prices
  5. Household Goods
  6. Rent/Mortgage
  7. Apparel, Footwear & Accessories
  8. Entertainment & Recreation
  9. Healthcare
  10. Education
  11. Travel, Hotels, Flights, Vacations
  12. Childcare

This study is the first in a series of reports which will reveal the influence inflation is having on various consumer groups and demographic segments such as people who are returning to the office. The reports also present deep dives into specific concerns by generation, regions and other demographic groupings.

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