inStore - IDDBA 2014 - (Page 22)

60% of today's consumers cite portability as important or extremely important when choosing a snack. Take-and-bake or assemble-at-home bakery products draw the bakery away from being an "occasion" department into everyday eating. Half of today's consumers say that they eat snacks at least twice a day. Snacking and meal replacement Snack consumption is on the rise, as half of today's consumers (51%) say that they eat snacks at least twice a day, an increase from the 48% who said the same in 2012. A third of consumers snack more frequently than just two years ago. Deli prepared options continue to expand as consumers opt to piece together their meals-the number of unique items sold in store for deli prepared salads and sides each increased by more than 10% in 2013, according to Nielsen Perishables Group. In the produce department, meal components requiring minimal preparation, including salad kits and value-added vegetable side dishes, are also gaining popularity. In 2013, vegetable side dishes increased dollar sales 16% and salad kits jumped 26% from the previous year. These convenient produce options fit the "semi-prepared" bill for consumers that want to feel involved with food prep. Similar offerings are also gaining traction in the bakery department. Take-and-bake or assemble-at-home bakery products are direct attempts to draw the bakery away from being a "celebration" or "occasion" department into everyday eating. Shoppers are also supplementing meals with snacks, or replacing them altogether. Here, grocery offers a competitive edge over foodservice, with a variety of convenient and healthy snacking options. In 2013, the number of unique deli prepared snack items increased 9%, according to Nielsen Perishables Group. In the produce department, products like snacking vegetables and fresh-cut fruit increased their offerings by nearly 20% each. Crossstore merchandising with items from fresh and center-store aisles to frame the consumer mindset for "snack meals" could be an effective way to capture sales from this growing consumer trend in 2014. 22 * IDDBA DAIRY-DELI-BAKE 2014 SPECIAL EDITION * instore Not only are consumers snacking more often, they're broadening their definition of a "snack." These days, a wider range of foods-and beverages-are now viewed as snacks, and convenience stores and other retailers are sparking competition with restaurants in order to meet the growing demand. Consumers eat snacks both between meals and as meal replacements: Nearly half of consumers (49%) eat snacks between meals and 45% replace one or two daily meals with a snack. Fifty-percent of consumers indicate that healthfulness is very important to them when choosing a snack. And portability is increasingly vital: 60% of today's consumers, compared to 55% in 2012, cite portability as an important or extremely important factor when choosing a snack. Home meal replacements or prepared foods from supermarkets, drug stores, and other retail outlets will continue to capture share of the meal/snacks market by stealing visits from restaurants, according to The NPD Group. NPD's recent foodservice forecast through 2022 indicates that instances of prepared food purchased at retailers for at-home consumption will increase by 10% over the next decade, compared to a 4% increase forecast for restaurant traffic. While there is no one age group that takes greater advantage of the prepared food offerings from retail outlets than another, the needs being met do differ by age group, according to NPD's A Look into the Future of Foodservice study. For example, adults 35 years and older are more likely than 18-34 year olds to use prepared foods from retail to meet their in-home supper needs. Lunch-at-home interests are also met by these retailers, especially for seniors (65+). Consumers 18-24 are more inclined than others to make purchases from these retail outlets to satisfy their interest in afternoon or evening snacks.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of inStore - IDDBA 2014

inStore - IDDBA 2014
Instore - May 2014
Editor's Note - The IDDBA Issue: The Consumer Puzzle
Table of Contents
News - On Our Radar
IDDBA Preview
Connecting the Dots - Attracting Shoppers
Bakery - Ingredients and Icings
Hy-Vee Cake Challenge
Cookies & Sweets
Dessert Trends
Bread Trends
Schnuck Markets at 75
Deli - The Future of Prepared Food
Sandwiches Sell
Spiced Up Sides and Salads
Pizza, an American Classic
Cheese - Merchandising
Specialty Flavors
Appetizers & Sides
Sandwich Creations
Packaging - Sustainability
Convenience
Equipment - Next Generation Ovens and More
Depositor Innovations
Product Trends
Ad Index
Next Up - Christmas and New Year's

inStore - IDDBA 2014