Author

Phil Lempert

Phil started his career as The SupermarketGuru(R) on his grandfather’s dairy farm in Belleville New Jersey, although he admits that he has yet to actually milk a cow!

For more than 25 years, Lempert, an expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends, new products and the changing retail landscape, has identified and explained impending trends to consumers and some of the most prestigious companies and trade associations worldwide.

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He spends his time navigating the aisles of supermarkets discovering the common ground between retailers, CPG and consumers, and highlighting the opportunities. Lempert regularly appears on Good Morning America, The View, NBC Nightly News, Inside Edition and was the Food Trends Editor for NBC’s TODAY Show for almost two decades and hosted the nationally distributed Shopping Smart program on the WOR radio network. He is the author of five books and a columnist for Forbes.com as well as The Robin Report.

Tip Fatigue Is Real: It’s Killing Trust

Phil Lempert November 26, 2025

Research shows that consumers react negatively to service charges added for them, even when those charges would have been voluntary tips. They want to see ...

What Will Pringles Think of Next to Sell More Chips?

Phil Lempert November 18, 2025

Would you pay $19.99 for a can of Pringles and a trinket? Well, meet the Once You Pop Mystery Box—Pringles' first-ever direct-to-consumer product. Inside each ...

Jack Sinclair Is a Retail Radical

Phil Lempert November 12, 2025

The Innovation Center, branded as the “New for You Destination” in each Sprout’s store started popping up in new stores in 2021 and serves as ...

Off the Shelf: A Tricky Halloween

Phil Lempert October 28, 2025

Hershey raised prices by double digits. A 48-count box of full-size bars that cost $40 last year is now $50. So how is Hershey responding? ...

Kith Ivy and Erewhon: Membership Match Made in Heaven

Phil Lempert October 8, 2025

Think about the possibilities. An Erewhon partnership with Kith Ivy could offer club-exclusive products, limited releases, or members-only wellness events with celebrity nutritionists. This mini ...

7-Eleven New Standard Stores: DOA

Phil Lempert October 2, 2025

Trust between franchisees and their corporate entities is already at an all-time low. The 2021 National Coalition survey of 7-Eleven franchisees found that more than ...

TRR Live! Off the Shelf: The Starbucks Protein Foam Scam

Phil Lempert September 30, 2025

Starbucks’ new "Protein Cold Foam" went on sale September 29 –- and this might be one of the most ridiculous cash grabs I've seen in ...

How Digital Technology Is Revolutionizing Merchandising

Phil Lempert September 11, 2025

The death of the traditional end cap isn't just about technology—it's about data. These digital displays are collection engines, gathering information on dwell time, interaction ...