Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022 - 15

The fresh meat industry hasn't been as hard-hit by the global supply
slowdown as other food categories, Stein said. For starters, most meat
consumed in the United States is produced here - or in neighboring
countries reachable by truck. The boats languishing off Long Beach
don't apply.
That said, the industry is not immune. Demand is high and will likely
get higher - for fortunate Americans, their savings accounts are higher
than ever. And for the less fortunate, SNAP benefits are up, spurring
additional demand.
" That demand is going to be hard to fill, especially with the labor
force we have now, " Stein said. " I think it will be a rocky road for at least
another 18 months. "
Convenience reigns
Another trend that should have staying power, Roerink said, is the quest
for convenience.
In many ways, life is just as busy, if not busier, than it was prepandemic.
But most Americans are still doing a lot more cooking
than they did way back in the pre-COVID days of 2019. While initially
many people enthusiastically invested in pots, pans, knives and cutting
boards, Roerink said, fatigue has set in and people are back to juggling
many things in a day. They're looking for short cuts, and are willing to
pay a little more to save a little time.
" We see it in everything from online shopping to conveniencefocused
solutions such as value-added meat, fully-cooked meat and
deli-prepared meats. It's clear that consumers continue on the path of
the hybrid meal. Meaning, they prepare some items from scratch and
mix that with convenience-focused solutions from the frozen aisle,
refrigerated section or even the deli. "
That may be pre-marinated meat, a meal kit, having items such as
fajita meat right next to cut peppers and onions or fully cooked meat,
including deli prepared. Some days, consumers cook the meat from
scratch and combine it with some convenience-focused options in
produce or starches. Other days, they scratch cook the vegetable and
use heat-and-eat meat solutions. It's that hybrid meal where retailers
can make big inroads in being a helping hand in inspiration and
execution.
Food shoppers will find more freshly prepared and semi-prepared
chicken products in the meat department, Super said.
" They want convenience but they also want to continue using the
heightened cooking skills they achieved during the pandemic, " he said.
" Fresh and fully-cooked chicken sausages for breakfast, dinner, and inbetween
are capturing more consumer interest and usage. As some of
these sausage flavors prove to be long-term winners, it can be expected
to see these flavors being offered as marinades in boneless/skinless
breasts and thighs. "
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Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022

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