Retail Industry Insights

With limited land available for agriculture as well as heightened interest in conserving nature resources like water, new types of agriculture – both plant and animal – are emerging.  As consumers become more savvy in their knowledge of these options, retailers are increasing product offerings from new agriculture methodologies. Today’s article explores one of these methodologies – aquaponics.

The nation’s biggest-selling plant-based fall foods – nuts, apples, pumpkins, cranberries and cranberry sauce - have the nutrition, distinctive tastes, and close association with special days such as Halloween and Thanksgiving to be tabletop perennials.  Yet customer demand for each varies widely during the 12 weeks ending at Thanksgiving: dollar sales, scale and fresh vs. packaged splits move to their own distinct weekly rhythms, as revealed by Nielsen data.

Produce may be the showpiece department of food retailers, but when it comes to spice sales in the fall season, the dry grocery aisle is consumers’ go-to place to buy.  Spice dollar sales there far outpace fresh spice sales from the produce department.

Next time you stroll through the product department, take a few minutes to see if you can spot any unbranded produce. Yes, we said unbranded because in today’s world, it can be difficult to spot a piece of produce that is not directly connected with a brand. 

A growing body of science continues to uncover the properties in food that can promote health. Whether it’s beta-glucan in oats, antioxidants in berries, probiotics in certain fermented foods, or omega-3s in fish, more people are looking to maximize the nutrition they get from food to help support their healthy lifestyle. 

The way in which consumers digest news and make purchasing decisions is largely impacted by the political landscape, media headlines, and world events. As a retail dietitian, it is important to understand the consumer state of mind to communicate effectively and create successful promotional programs. 

As retail dietitians encourage shoppers to make healthier choices at retail, it’s essential to help the shopper break the autopilot habit and begin purchasing more nutritious options as a new routine.

Shoppers today want to know where the seafood they are purchasing has come from, if sustainable practices were used and if farmed seafood is safe. Unfortunately, perceptions about seafood farming are not keeping pace with the positive state of aquaculture science. The Seafood Nutrition Partnership provides the following insights to assist with understanding sustainable seafood practices and options:

My local grocery store recently went through a remodel. Even thought it’s been a few months now since the remodel completion, I still can’t find items when I shop. They’ve moved. All the aisles are reconfigured and products are now shelved differently. I find myself annoyed, seeing grocery shopping as more of a chore than ever before.

Eating habits across America continue to shift, with a recent Nielson survey showing that 39% of the population is actively trying to eat more plant-based foods. FoodNavigator-USA lists “plant-based innovation” as a top trend for 2018 (1). Food companies are responding with an increasing number of plant-based products taking up their fair share of the meat and dairy cases.