SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- The authors of a new survey predict business at select supermarkets with a higher black, Hispanic and other minority clientele will significantly increase around the upcoming patriotic holidays.
ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of the ACNielsen market research firm here, recently released findings from its new Consumer Pre*View service that show a higher tendency toward "patriotic" spending among blacks, Hispanics and "other" consumers following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
For example, the results show 46% of blacks and 35% of Hispanics were more likely to purchase American-made grocery products compared to 33% of whites.
Weather makes more of an impact on what sells or doesn't, said Ross Nixon, vice president of merchandising for Dahl's Food Markets, Des Moines, Iowa, downplaying the findings.
Dahl's has already committed to certain changes, such as adding flags to its plastic grocery bags, he said. Pathmark, Carteret, N.J., is another chain that has added flags to its advertising circulars since the 9/11 attacks.
Rich Savner, spokesman for Pathmark, said, "Initially last year people were buying memorabilia," but in terms of groceries, "consumers are still driven by quality and price. The ability to deliver a good price point with a quality product is still the most important thing."
