MarketDial champions all retailers who test. And, while we undoubtedly want retailers to test with us, we believe anyone conducting tests deserves a shout out. Join us each month as we raise a toast to some of the remarkable initiatives being tested by diverse retail organizations.
Asda tests driverless grocery delivery
If you live around the Park Royal Asda superstore in London, you may be able to get some royal treatment. Asda has launched a year-long trial, partnering with Wayve to deliver groceries with self-driving vehicles, covering 72,000 households and 170,000+ residents. The test run marks the largest driverless grocery delivery trial in the U.K. If the initiative proves successful, the ultimate goal is to implement it fleetwide, according to Simon Gregg, VP of eCommerce at Asda: “We believe autonomous technology is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of delivery, not only at our Park Royal store, but throughout our nationwide operation.”
Wegmans tests smart cart
With staffing a continual problem for retailers and long lines a continual problem for shoppers, Wegmans is hoping to revolutionize the checkout process with a smart cart from Shopic that allows you to scan and bag your groceries as you shop — which means when your’re finished selecting items, you can quickly pay, return the device, and leave. The smart cart is currently being tested in Amherst and Pittsford, New York.
The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag tests “Bring your own bag” in over 150 stores
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Kroger, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Ulta Beauty, and others have joined forces in Tuscan and Denver to test solutions for plastic bag reduction. The goal in having multiple retailers participate is to reinforce consumer behavior at scale. With 100 billion plastic bags used annually and less than 10% of those bags being recycled, this initiative could not be more timely.
Mountain Dew and Red Bull put new summer flavors to the test
As the weather heats up in the northern hemisphere, PepsiCo is ready to test out new Mountain Dew flavors. The limited-edition line up is dubbed “Summer Freeze” and includes cherry, raspberry, and lemon ice pop flavoring. Red Bull, likewise, is adding the unique Juneberry to its summer offerings.
Can McDonald’s burger changes reinvigorate the Hamburglar’s thievery?
For over two decades the Hamburglar has seemingly been reformed. But with “hotter, juicier and tastier” McDonald’s burgers being tested in a variety of West Coast cities, the burglar’s appetite for mischief has been stoked. The new advertising campaign and burgers can be found in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Sam Adams tests out cocktails
With the extensive product lists already offered by Boston Beer Company, it’s hard to think what more could be added. But this summer you can expect a fun take on cocktails with Slingers Signature Cocktails, boasting three new flavors: Bahama Mama, Pineapple Punch, and Peach Screwdriver. The summer drinks can be found in select stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Hampshire.
WaWa tests new policy for age-restricted sales
Everyone wishing to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or vape at select WaWa locations will now be required to show ID. WaWa is testing the new policy in reaction to a law requiring that sellers check the IDs of customers who appear to be younger than 27. To prevent unnecessary fines and to standardize the practice and expectations, the company is seeing how a universal carding policy will impact customer behavior.
How about you? What are you testing? Did you know testing enables you to see the impact of your ingenious ideas before implementing a large-scale rollout?
Make informed decisions by putting all your retail initiatives to the test with MarketDial. Learn more about the retailers who trust us as their test-and-learn partner, and read about the exciting things tested and toasted by MarketDial here: Case Studies
If you would like to be toasted or would like to raise a glass to a testing retailer, please contact us at: [email protected]
Missed previous toasts? Catch them here:
February 2023
March 2023
