Grocery Stores Elevate Snacking to a Meal

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson, based in Tacoma, WA says consumers are tired of cooking from scratch and simply put they are ‘bored eating the few meals they can cook at home’. Releasing results of the most recent Grocerant ScoreCards noted that 79.9% of those surveyed reported being ‘bored’ eating home cooked meals.

Not to worry according to Johnson, grocery stores service deli’s have found a solution according to Johnson. Consumers forced to stay away from restaurants are going to grocery stores and buying premade or custom-made charcuterie and cheese boards.

In fact, Jake Panattoni, associate category manager for deli at Raley’s, a West Sacramento, Calif.-based chain of 126 stores, said that he saw some of the largest growth numbers in the category during the first two months of the pandemic and that sales have remained steady throughout, with an overall increase of around 30%.

It was reported that Andy Fitzgerrell, cheese category specialist for KeHE Distributors, which provides natural, organic, specialty and fresh products to chain and independent grocery stores, noted that contactless solutions are top of mind for many retail partners — specifically, low- to no-touch options. That’s made pre-sliced charcuterie selections, as well as precut cheeses, a big focus.

Consumers are tired of eating at home, bored, and looking for options for meals that don’t require a lot if any cooking, very little prep time, and complementary to and evolving life style according to Johnson. That includes complete meal kits / snacking kits comprised of pre-sliced meats, cheeses, spreads, with the addition of nuts and crackers. 

That said, when consumers are looking for a beverage; wine, beer, liquor or something to ‘smoke’ in the evening. Bundling charcuterie boards, cheese boards, nuts and crackers at grocery stores, liquor stores, and smoke shops this holiday season will be a meal solution and a big hit according to Johnson.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant Program Assessment, Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869