Success does leave clues,
one clear clue is that consumer demand for meals and meal components that are
fresh prepared with the halo of ‘better-for-you’ continue to drive sales
according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant
Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.
Here is but one
example focusing on refrigerated dressings, dips and spreads that can be used
in multiple dayparts when mixed and matched with other meal components in two
of today’s hottest food consumption trends: healthful snacking and
meal preparation made easy.
According
to IRI, Chicago, sales of
refrigerated dips reached more than $1 billionthis year (for the 52 weeks
ending June 17, 2018), up 12.8% vs. the previous year. Sales in the category
have been up for the past four consecutive years.
Spreads aren’t far
behind, garnering more than $9.5 million in sales for the same time period, up
4.5% vs. a year ago. (For both dips and spreads, figures represent UPC only:
refrigerated sold through all refrigerated areas in produce, dairy and deli.)
Supermarkets across
the country are promoting healthful refrigerated dressings, dips and spreads
paired with produce in a variety of clever ways designed to increase
consumption edifying consumer demand.
Consider not reinventing
the wheel use traditional spreads and other products with healthier ingredients
(think avocados) is also top of mind at Calavo
Foods in Santa Paula, Calif. It recently introduced
Avocado Mayo, which is sold alongside refrigerated dips, positioned as a
healthy alternative to traditional mayonnaise.
“As we visit major
retailers across the country, they say they like the freshness, versatility and
health benefits of avocados and guacamole,” says Ron Araiza, VP of Calavo
Foods. According to a national benchmark
study conducted by Calavo that polled guacamole consumers using a web-based
panel in all 50 states, “ease of use” was identified as the top reason why
respondents who both purchased and made their own guacamole preferred to use
premade guacamole. An overwhelming 78.6% of respondents cited the convenience
of premade guacamole as the impetus for purchase.
Calavo also reports
that total guacamole retail sales—including the produce and deli
departments—was $328 million in 2017, with guacamole sales in produce outpacing
deli guacamole sales 20.7% vs. 14.1%.
This fall, Calavo
will introduce guacamole combos in a grab-and-go format that will feature
various chip and guacamole flavor combos. Later in the year, Calavo will launch
combos that pair pretzels and guacamole, as well as vegetables and guacamole.
“Retailers can’t get
enough of these types of product,” Araiza says. Guacamole’s growth is 15%-20%
per year, he says.
Also catering to the
increasingly important on-the-go shopper, Good Foods
Group of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., is
optimizing packaging for its single-serve avocado-based products and
introducing new items (such as Chunky Guacamole Spicy), as well as Guacamole
and Avocado Mash, scheduled to hit stores January 2019.
“According to Mintel,
about 83% of the U.S. is adding plant-based foods to their diets to improve
health and nutrition.” Don’t invent the
wheel simply offer ‘cleaner
cuisine’ according to our Grocerant Guru®.
Enabling success means giving consumer’s what they want when they want
it. Today, that is authentic fresh food with fewer additives that can be mixed
and matched into a customized meal.
According to
Technomic’s 2018
Snacking Occasion report, 71% of consumers say that
when they snack they are usually watching TV at home. But as for what they’re
snacking? Compared to two years ago, 13% of consumers are consuming more sweet
snacks and 13% are consuming more salty snacks; those numbers are slightly
higher among younger consumers.
For consumers ages
18- to 34-years old, 20% are eating more sweets while 16% are reaching for more
salty snacks. What does that mean for grocery stores? Simply that there’s ample
opportunity to stock a wide range of sweet and salty snacking options.
Foodservice Solutions® specializes in
outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify
additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and
brand and menu integration strategy. Foodservice Solutions® of
Tacoma WA is the global leader in
the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/
or twitter.com/grocerant
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