As is the case with other industries, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on retail grocery. While in most cases stores are reporting record sales, deli department sales were down 10% in March and April of 2020, compared to 2019, due to low sales in the deli-prepared foods section. In a typical year, deli-prepared foods would account for the most sales in the department.
Seeking to better understand more about consumer preferences when it comes to deli-prepared foods, especially those pertaining to beef, NCBA, on behalf of the beef checkoff, conducted an online quantitative survey of 1,193 consumers. Convenience, as it pertains to how quick items are to serve, ranked number one among reasons given for shopping the deli-prepared department. Other top reasons mentioned were freshness of the food, how it’s easier than cooking and that they can find specific foods and a variety of options.
Items that consumers claim would encourage them to purchase more often from the deli-prepared department include meats, cheese, salad and sandwiches. Specifically, 45% of consumers would like to see even more beef options. Shoppers also are looking for a variety of cuisine as well, such as American, Italian and Mexican. Incorporating beef into options utilizing these cuisines could entice even more consumers.
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