IDDBA’s What’s In Store 2015 Reports Snacking On The Rise, Providing Fresh Department Opportunities

Madison, WI – The rise in customer snacking occasions and increased interest in “on-the-go” offerings provides new sales opportunities for in-store dairy, deli, and bakery departments, as three-square meals a day becomes a thing of the past.

This and dozens of other food industry and consumer trends are addressed in What’s in Store 2015, the 29th edition of the annual trends publication of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association™ (IDDBA).

Among the highlights of the snacking trend:

  • Seventy-seven percent of consumers said they snack at least once a day, with 51% snacking twice a day, according to Technomic. Consumers eat snacks both between meals and as meal replacements, with 49% eating between meals and 45% replacing one or two daily meals with a snack.
  • According to The Hartman Group, about 50% of all eating occasions are snack occasions, accounting for one-third of adult calorie consumption in the United States. American consumers eat an average of 2.3 snacks a day, with 85% purchasing them from retailers. The Hartman Group calls snacking an “underserved” eating occasion in fresh departments as store promotions continue to focus on three typical meals.
  • or extremely important factor when choosing a snack. Healthfulness is also important, cited by 50% of customers.
  • Convenience is a top bakery trend as reported by Daymon Worldwide, as consumers seek out single-serve and smaller-sized baked goods that provide portability, portion-control, and snacking interest.

Snacking and immediate consumption are influencing how shoppers use fresh perimeter categories, according to findings in IDDBA’s original research, Engaging the Evolving Shopper: Serving the New American Appetite.

“Snacking is no longer just an incidental eating occasion where a consumer impulsively purchases a low-cost, packaged item such as a candy bar or bag of nuts,” said Eric Richard, education coordinator, IDDBA. “It’s become a purposeful, rich cultural practice that now stretches beyond the center-store snack aisles and into the fresh perimeter.”

What’s in Store 2015, our 29th edition, is a 224-page trends report that details consumer and industry trends affecting the in-store dairy case, cheese case, bakery, deli, and foodservice departments. Its 200+ tables, developed in cooperation with leading industry firms and associations, include department sales, per capita consumption, consumer preferences, system 2, UPC, and private label sales data. The purchase of What’s in Store 2015 includes access to What’s in Store Online, a collection of downloadable tables from the book, plus white papers and trends articles (many with accompanying downloadable tables) that offer supplementary in-depth trends information. Be sure to save time using our Reference Links—these are web homepage links to all of the businesses referenced in What's in Store 2015. The cost is $99 for IDDBA members and $399 for non-members, plus shipping and handling. For more information and to order, visit iddba.org/wis.aspx.

Engaging the Evolving Shopper: Serving the New American Appetite is IDDBA’s latest original research that explores the evolving U.S. shopper of fresh perimeter categories – dairy, deli, bakery, prepared foods, specialty cheese and specialty meats – through the lens of Millennials, modern eating, health and wellness, and digital engagement. This study provides insights and implications around: how Millennials are shaping food trends, particularly in fresh perimeter categories; how new demands of modern life are changing eating culture, enabling meals and snacks to happen anytime and anywhere, shaping how shoppers think about the fresh perimeter; how health and wellness trends have redefined how shoppers see the role of food in their lives; and how technology has become integrated in shoppers' lives as they seek information and inspiration both in-store and digitally for deeper engagement with their foods. The research is free to members and $795 for nonmembers. For more information and to order, visit iddba.org/engagingevolvingshopper.aspx.

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 Dairy-Deli-Bake seminar and expo, leading-edge research, free training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report, What’s in Store 2015. For more information, contact IDDBA at 608.310.5000 or visit our Web site, www.iddba.org.

Source: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association™ (IDDBA)