Inflation has dominated the trade and consumer headlines since early fall of last year and June 2022 is no different. “While consumer money-saving when buying groceries are plentiful, it is important to note that it is not a race to the bottom nor a complete abandoning of restaurant visits,” noted Jonna Parker, Team Lead Fresh at IRI. “However, the 40-year high inflation does mean consumers are much more strategic about their grocery and restaurant choices. That means cooking from scratch one day and leaning on value-added solutions the next. Likewise, we’re seeing consumers seamlessly switching between value and premium — creating a complex pattern of marketplace trends.”
“[The data] points to great power of relevant, targeted promotions if supply chain conditions allow for it. It could be a happy hour sale, one-day or three-day promotion, but try to keep fresh produce promotions front and center to retain a greater share of primary shoppers instead of them cherry picking competitors’ deals and losing a vital part of the total store basket.”