Dive Brief:
- The Food Marketing Institute has released its annual report on the state of the prepared foods and deli segments, according to a news release.
- The research focuses on determining "what choices consumers are making and how they are determining where and what they will eat," which can help retailers identify ways to encourage more traffic in those areas of the store, according to the news release.
- The fresh and deli prepared segments posted 96% penetration, but only 12% of consumers said they visit the deli regularly.
Dive Insight:
Retailers can look to branded product manufacturers for strategies to increase consumption of products in various sections of the store. First, retailers are embracing the health and wellness trends that have become more common over the past few years, through both their private label brands and their prepared foods and deli products.
Convenience remains the primary advantage that retailers offer with prepared foods and deli products. That should be at the heart of any message a retailer presents to a consumer when it comes to foods in this part of the store, per FMI's report.
FMI also recommends that retailers offer a balance of innovative varieties across meal times and categories, but with simplified purchase encouragements. That might include highlighting the fact that the food is more convenient to prepare without restaurant prices, or how consumers can save time by purchasing their next meal and the ingredients for later meals all at one stop.