Progressive Grocer - December 2008 - (Page 41)

How does America cook? Convenience foods split up between meal “replacers” and “helpers.” Which of the following kinds of products have shoppers used in the past 12 months? REPLACING Frozen entrees Baking mixes Frozen dinner bags HELPING Marinating sauces Rubs/spice mixes Dinner mixes Stir-fry sauces Mexican cooking spices 35% SOURCE: THE HARTMAN GROUP, INC. CONVENIENCE FOODS SURVEY. SEPTEMBER 2008 CHECK OUT THE ONLINE PROFIT GUIDE Your Resource to Increase Profitability Retailers: 73% 65% 51% 67% 62% 58% 42% WATCH FOR OTHER CATEGORY PROFIT GUIDES COMING SOON! 41 Indian simmer sauces 5% keters and packaged food innovators enough currently to mask this change. can set their sights on? Our research has found the surging A recent examination of larger cul- interest in defining convenience as tural trends, in what we at The Hartman products that assist, rather than replace, Group call the “Culture of Food,” reveals home cooking. These are especially that consumer notions of convenience what consumers are looking for on dinare much broader and more trend-ori- ner occasions when they actually want ented than the current industry focus on to make a fresh, home-cooked meal. the quick and complete meal solution. In a nationwide survey, we looked Throughout the colorful history of at the broad continuum of convenconvenience foods, there has been ten- ience products (encompassing those sion between convenience as “solution” that speed up or simplify meal prepaand convenience as “helper.” ration) to examine relative interest in The early history of convenience convenience products that offer help, foods shows a gradual movement away vs. those that replace home cooking. from marketers presenting mere What we found is that all Americans kitchen helpers, to presenting full meal use both categories of convenience solutions. This industry shift occurred products (See chart above). in an era when patronizing sit-down It used to be enough for packaged restaurants was reserved for special food makers to box or jar established occasions. In other words, when flavors and food experiences under the America wasn’t actively changing its rubric of convenience. No more. Now food preferences or tastes (except for a the key challenge is to understand the tiny elite), it made sense to consumers curious connections between trends on and the industry to evolve from con- the restaurant scene and in the Amerivenience as helper to convenience as can home-cooked meal. complete meal solution, at least for Harvey Hartman is founder, chairman, less interesting, everyday meals. and c.e.o. of The Hartman Group, a leading consulting and consumer insights What’s cooking today firm specializing in the analysis and interMore recent trends, however, show pretation of consumer lifestyles, and how that consumers are actually moving in these lifestyles affect the purchase and use the opposite direction, back toward of today’s products and services in tomor“helper” convenience, even if sales of row’s marketplace. Harvey can be reached “complete solutions” may be strong at harvey@hartman-group.com. www.progressivegrocer.com Progressive Grocer • December 2008 • Profit Guides offer retailers category specific solutions to help drive efficiency and profitability. Available 24/7 with timely updates. NOW AVAILABLE – The BEER PROFIT GUIDE This comprehensive category-specific site is hosted on ProgressiveGrocer.com Including: • New Products and Packaging • IRI Economic Times & Trends • Shopper & Consumer Highlights • Customer Solutions & Shelf Merchandising • Fresh Promotions • Industry Affairs: Alcohol Awareness, Laws & Regulations … and MORE! Sponsored by MARKETERS: If you would like to learn about sponsoring an Online Profit Guide for your category, contact: Jacqueline Leng, Online National Accounts Manager, Nielsen Business Media, at 646-654-5483, or email Jacqueline.leng@nieslen.com http://www.ProgressiveGrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - December 2008

Progressive Grocer - December 2008
Contents
Front End: Onstead Becomes Interim Bi-Lo C.E.O.
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Shelfstable Juices/Vegetable Juices and Drinks
Market Snapshot: .Seattle-Tacoma,Wash
Retailer of the Year: Taking the lead
Lempert Report: Obama Prepares to Tackle Food Industry Issues
Independents Report: What Grocers Need to Know About Market Day
Consumer Research: Reason for Relevance
Shopper Culture: Reimagining Convenience Foods
Wake-up Call: The Ballad of The Egg Man
Eggs: A Kinder, Gentler Egg
Shelf-Stable Juice: Making a Splash
Post-PMA Show Analysis: High Yield
Niche Pork: Go Whole Hog for Local
Pharmacy: Chronic Customer Service
Technology: A Small-Town Grocer Discovers Digital DIY
Equipment Innovations
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - December 2008