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italian meats by Bob Sims F ood culture evolves more and more every year. Media and technology make knowledge of food easily accessible to the common consumer. Consumers that once trusted the industry to tell them what was good, high-end, top quality, etc., now find information and make these food decisions on their own. The farm to fork movement, the foodie culture and the health and wellness movement all have legs and continue to gain traction with today's modern consumer. "Coppa is a lesser known item that can really fly off the slicer if promoted correctly." Jay Holt, senior vice president of sales for Columbus Foods in Hayward, California An easy way for supermarket delis to enter this niche market that's becoming so popular is to carry specialty Italian meats. "When you promote these specialty items in your market, it gives your potential consumer another reason to come to your market over another grocery store," says Jay Holt, senior vice president of sales for Columbus Foods in Hayward, California. "If your customer is making a charcuterie plate with specialty Italian items that your store carries, your market is guaranteed huge upsell opportunities," Holt adds. "Now your customer has to pick up some specialty crackers, cheese and other sides to pair with the Italian meats they just bought from the deli." Popular Choices If you want to play it safe at first or make sure you stock meats that sell consistently, it's best to go with staples that have been around and held their popularity for some time. While the latest trends will sell, the classics provide steady sales over long periods of time. "Even though the Artisan line is our star, our best sellers are some of our original salame we've been making since 1917 like Italian Dry and Genoa," Holt says. Traditional Italian recipes, slow curing and quality ingredients mean customer satisfaction when it comes to Italian charcuterie. "Other popular sellers include our Sopressata salame that is a perfect marriage of sweet fennel and red pepper and our Mortadella where we use a traditional recipe from Bologna, Italy," Holt says. Aside from the traditional Italian meats that most consumers know of, many lesser known products exist that can be a boon for sales at the deli counter. "Coppa is a lesser known item that can really fly off the slicer if promoted correctly," Holt says. Known as the poor man's "If your customer is making a charcuterie plate with specialty Italian items that your store carries, your market is guaranteed huge upsell opportunities." Jay Holt, senior vice president of sales for Columbus Foods in Hayward, California 44 * MAR + APR 2015 * instore

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - March + April 2015

instore - March + April 2015
Editor's Note - Knowing Hispanics: Authenticity is Key
What's Ahead
Table of Contents
News - On Our Radar
Shopper Demographics - Trending Pie
Trendspotting - Muffin Inclusion
Trending - Deli Prepared Salads
Trendspotting - Hispanic Snacks
Consumer Insights - Babyboomers
Diet Trends - Consider Whole Grains
Hispanic Influence
Success Stories
Merchandising - Wedding Season
Top 10 Trends for 2015
Seasonal Promotions - Prepare for the Scary Season
Specialty Foods - Italian Meats
Specialty Cheese - Promoting Hispanic Cheeses
Packaging Trends - RPC Guidelines
Product Trends - First to Market
Product Showcase
Next Up/Ad Index

instore - March + April 2015