
“Between more people working from home versus pre-pandemic and people
identifying lunch as an occasion to save, retailers have an opportunity to go
after fast, healthy and cost-effective solutions. Salads, sandwiches, fruit and
vegetable snacks – they all fit the bill.”
Joe Watson, VP, Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale for IFPA
“The year ended the way it started, with inflation taking the headlines,” said Jonna Parker, Team Lead, Fresh at IRI. “According to the December IRI primary shopper survey, 93% believe groceries cost somewhat or a lot more than last year and 97% are somewhat or a lot concerned about it — lower-income households in particular. Consumers are noticing higher prices for all areas of the store, but especially called out fresh areas, such as eggs, milk, produce, meat and poultry. Whether these are perceptions or reality, consumers will adjust shopping behaviors based on what they believe, which is what makes the market even more unpredictable.”