Less is more: Why retailers and CPGs are moving toward selling fewer products in stores

As pantry-stocking consumers swarmed IGA's nearly 1,200 U.S. stores in March, CEO John Ross was on the phone daily with the company's independent grocers, keeping tabs on their struggles to navigate operating during an unprecedented pandemic.

In a scene that reverberated across the grocery store landscapes nationwide, retailers such as IGA scrambled to restock shelves, protect employees and implement other safety measures, while food manufacturers worked around the clock, refocusing their production on popular items — such as party-sized Oreos instead of single-serve packages, and best selling flavors of yogurt over more obscure ones. 

“We all did great with less, so now it’s time to think about how we move forward,” Ross told Food Dive.