Madison, WI — Forty-two percent of Millennials shop the prepared foods department—compared to 33% of Baby Boomers and 21% of Gen Xers—making them an important consumer demographic for in-store deli departments. This trend is one of many examined in What’s in Store 2016, the annual trends research report published by the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA).
Other findings found in the book’s Deli chapter include:
- Millennials seek out the following when purchasing food: quick grab-and-go products; in-store chef’s perspective on recipe ideas; local, healthy, and fresh prepared foods; transparency; and authenticity.
- In a shift away from diet-focused shopping and toward overall healthier lifestyles, consumers are more interested in food sources and manufacturing practices, at retail and in restaurants. Success in the foodservice industry is increasingly dependent upon overall increased uniqueness, variety, better-for-you, and transparency.
- Ways in-store delis can connect with shoppers include: smaller meals and snacking options; clean, “free-from” labels and organic, natural, and locally-sourced products; ethnic-inspired dishes; digital engagement through subscription services, prepared meal solutions; and social media; and new and popular flavors like spicy, sriracha, mango habanero, and chipotle.
Total deli dollar sales grew 27% and volume increase 18% from 2010 to 2014, a positive statistic for the fresh perimeter department. “Deli is winning,” said Sarah Schmansky, account services director, Nielsen Perishables Group. “It’s kind of a shining star within the perimeter. Our perspective is that it’s really listening to the consumer and resonating with what the consumer is wanting and really tailoring itself to meet individual consumer needs.”
With 30 years of credible reporting, What’s in Store is an essential dairy-deli-supermarket foodservice-bakery-cheese resource providing vital data on the retail and market trends, growth, and category changes shaping the food industry. IDDBA also offers What’s in Store Online, a collection of 150 downloadable tables, as well as white papers and trends articles.
A secondary research report, What’s in Store is developed through both interviews with industry experts and sourcing of third-party data and trends. (A complete listing of sources can be found here.)
This year’s edition of What’s in Store has a more continuous storyline to improve user efficiency and provide greater clarity for professionals needing to understand today’s retail world. Through five themes, readers gain new insights and learn about marketplace influences. The themes are:
- The Economy & Retail Trends
- Channels & Competition
- Consumer Lifestyles
- Eating Trends
- Technology and Marketing
The themed narrative is carried into each of the product chapters: Bakery, Cheese, Dairy, and Deli. The new format, exclusive interview content, and inclusion of key insights, table interpretations, data callouts, and testimonials enables the reader to more efficiently tie back to the broader context and then dig deeper in each of the product sections.
“Mirroring many of the same trends as other fresh perimeter departments, today’s shoppers are increasingly looking for similar product attributes when shopping in-store delis, such as smaller-portion size, “free-from” foods, ethnic-spired items and creations, and greater interest in food sources and origins,” said Jonathan Whalley, education coordinator, IDDBA. “Understanding the eating trends and buying patterns of today’s shoppers can enable delis to better position their products and services and ensure engagement with customers.”
The purchase price of What’s in Store 2016 is $99 members, $399 nonmembers. Purchase one or multiple copies and learn more about What’s in Store 2016 and IDDBA’s collection of original research reports at iddba.org.
About IDDBA: IDDBA is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, and supermarket foodservice industries. Member companies enjoy many benefits and services including the annual seminar and expo, leading-edge research, free training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report. For more information, contact IDDBA at 608.310.5000 or visit our Website, iddba.org.
Source: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA)
