In this highly competitive retail environment, it is important for retailers to highlight products that drive more dollars to their bottom line. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, conducts various research studies to highlight how different types of proteins and items at the retail stores can increase sales, provide greater margins, and increase the average size of a purchase. One of the studies usually conducted every two years by NCBA are consumer panel studies, which help the market research team learn and understand about consumer trends, popular items, and market intelligence to help NCBA’s external partners grow beef demand and increase retail revenue.
NCBA partnered with NielsenIQ, a syndicated data provider, to conduct a study utilizing their Homescan panel made up of 125,000 consumers. The panel study surveyed retail grocery shoppers and covered three main areas. First, the study asked respondents questions around their shopping habits, including the frequency of retail purchases, average dollar size of purchases, and which type of retail establishment at which the items were purchased. Second, NielsenIQ conducted a “cross-purchase analysis”; this part of the study examined protein purchases, such as beef, chicken, and pork, along with what other types of grocery items purchased at the same time. Lastly, a demographic profile was conducted, asking questions around income level, family-size, and completed level of education. Data and results from the study showed the benefit to retailers of highlighting and featuring beef at the retail level; for example, purchases with beef present increase the average dollar value spent 206% compared to the average basket.1 This increased-sales effect extends to products outside of the fresh meat department, and increases purchases for produce, alcohol, and other grocery items.
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