PERISHABLES LEAD GROWTH
NEW YORK — Total food retail sales are expanding, and perishables departments have been leading the way, according to Nielsen Homescan data from the latest 52 weeks ending Sept. 26, 2009. In a Nielsenwire blog post analyzing the data, Jeffrey Gregori, vice president of solutions consulting for Nielsen, noted that household deli spend during the period was up 5% while fresh meat and poultry sales were up 4%. Gregori also noted that during the past year, U.S. supermarkets maintained or gained market share in perishables categories vs. competitors in the club, mass and supercenter channels. The growth in sales of retail meats, deli, produce and bakery products was attributed to consumers eating more meals at home to save money during the recession. Prime-time viewership of the Food Network is up 16% and 46% of U.S. households say they are eating out less often, according to other Nielsen data cited by Gregori.
AMI POSTS SAFETY REPORT
WASHINGTON — The American Meat Institute Foundation last week posted a 10-Year Report on its Food Safety Initiative, an effort the organization says is “designed to research ways to target and destroy key pathogens and to educate consumers about the role they play in ensuring safe food.” Although high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls continue to trouble the industry, the report notes that since 2000, E. coli prevalence on ground beef products has declined 45%. And, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that human E. coli infections have declined 44% since 2000. The report also outlines industry education and research efforts that the foundation has sponsored. Copies are available for download at amif.org.
