In-Store Sales of Straws Remain Strong During the First Week of August Amid Plastic Straw Ban Buzz

Plastic straws have been stealing headlines this summer. Across the food service industry, actions are being taken to limit the use of plastic straws to reduce environmental impacts. Starbucks is one such example, having committed to phasing out single-use plastic straws. At the same time, several cities in the U.S. and around the globe have banned plastic straws or have pending legislation around the issue.
But have consumers drawn their last straw when it comes to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) purchases? According to Nielsen’s Friday morning data for the week ended Aug. 4, 2018, sales would indicate otherwise. In the U.S., the total straw category represented $1.7 million in sales during the week, up 3.4% in dollars and 1.0% in units compared to the same time last year. In fact, for the last six weeks, sales have consistently outpaced rates of a year ago. Nielsen – Read more…