Supermarket Perimeter - May 2020 - 80

DELI SIDES

by Emily Park

WHEN IT COMES TO DELI
SIDES, consumers are looking
for indulgence, authenticity and
connectivity, said Melanie Skloff
of Schwenksville, Penn.-based
Don's Prepared Foods.
"Consumers are increasingly
looking to connect with a brand
or company on a more personal
level," Skloff said. "They want
to understand where their food
is coming from, who is making
their food."
Skloff points out that
consumers are increasingly
interested in knowing if their
food is mass-produced by a
large company or by a familyowned business that makes their

food offerings in small batches
by hand. Buyers want to know
if the ready-made food they're
putting on their tables at home
was made with local ingredients
and they want to know how
those ingredients were grown
and raised. "A good story behind
a company or brand is a trend we
don't see going anywhere any
time soon," she added.
Skloff said that it's important
for grocers to feature and source
more products from local or
small-family businesses. She
suggested that retailers tell their
shoppers where their products
are coming from with signage
and demos.

Nathan Roe, senior manager
of deli strategy and customer
marketing at Beaverton, Ore.based Reser's Fine Foods, also
highlighted that customers want
to know more about the food
they are eating.
"Consumers have increasingly
looked to ingredient statements
to feel good about what they're
eating and buying," Roe said.
"For the most part, they don't
want to sacrifice flavor or taste
(or convenience), but we think
there may be some flexibility
on price."
Over the last several years
the importance of health and
nutrition in foods across all
food categories including deli
sides has been on the rise.
Skloff also noted, however, that
while consumers are looking
for healthier options, they
aren't willing to sacrifice good
taste, indulgence, or nostalgia.

While consumers are looking for healthier options, they aren't willing to sacrifice good taste, indulgence,
or nostalgia. Consumers still want all of that, just without the artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
80 - MAY 2020

SP_May20.indb 80

Consumers still want all of that,
she said, just without the artificial
flavors, colors and preservatives
that many of them grew up with.
Skloff said Don's Artisan Deli
line of clean deli salads, new
gourmet sides and Melanie's
Medleys cream cheese dips meet
the need created by this year's
top trends:
*	 Classic Tuna Salad
*	 Chicken Salad
*	 Italian Style Tuna Salad
*	 Seafood Salad
*	 Green Curry Lentils
and Quinoa
*	 Southwestern Black Eyed Peas
*	 Korean Green Beans
*	 Smoky Butter Beans
*	 Artichoke Romesco
*	 Adobe Rice and Beans
*	 Raisin, Apple & Cinnamon
Cream Cheese
*	 Vegetable Cream Cheese
*	 Cinnamon Toast
Cream Cheese
*	 Blueberry Cream Cheese
*	 Plain Cream Cheese
Made in small batches with
clean ingredients and antibioticfree protein, Don's Artisan Deli
line comes prepared in 10-ounce
grab-n-go containers. The
company's newest gourmet sides
are also made without artificial

RESER'S FINE FOODS, DON'S PREPARED FOODS, FRESH FOOD GROUP

SPOTLIGHT

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5/5/2020 4:11:48 PM
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Supermarket Perimeter - May 2020

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