Wal-Mart goes all, like, 'granola' on us

"The world's largest retailer and No. 1 purveyor of groceries in the U.S. is making a huge push into Whole Foods' territory of organic food." Walmart already sells 1,600 organic products, but Walmart is offering a new line of products under the Wild Oats brand. The difference is that they'll be offered at the same price as non-organic national brands and 25% cheaper than the organic national brands in its stores. The move reflects a bigger shift in the national consciousness around food. As we detail in the cover story, healthy, natural, and organic products make up a $150 billion segment that's set to grow 50% by 2018, according to one of Walmart's sales divisions. Shoppers in general aren't as brand conscious when it comes to organics because it's a new niche, says Phil Howard, a professor at Michigan State University, who teaches community, food, and agriculture. That's helped the ascent of the 365 brand and will likely also help       Wal-Mart get customers to try Wild Oats products. These new organic products will help customers to shop healthier for a cheaper price.

Falling soda sales: Not a trend, but a fundamental shift

"Coca-Cola and Pepsico must be judged not on whether they can resurrect their flagship brands, but on how well they can manage those brands' decline." Over the past nine years, soft drink sales have been declining. But this is much more than a trend. It is a fundamental shift in consumer taste and is a growing problem for soda makers. By the end of 2013, soda sales fell by 3%. This is the lowest it has been since 1995. Because of this, many companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsico have begun to invest in alternatives like new kinds energy drinks, sports drinks, and flavored water.

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/01/soda-sales-coke-pepsi/