Premium Ingredients Can Help Grocers Boost the Appeal of Home-Cooked Meals

Amid widespread restaurant shutdowns and consumers staying home as much as possible, going out to eat is out of the question for large swaths of the population. What’s more, after weeks spent indoors, it’s likely many consumers have grown tired of their go-to recipes for home-cooked meals. But with more time to cook, some consumers are also broadening their horizons for recipes, making new dishes as well as classic favorites. With this shift in consumer behavior, grocers have a wide-open opportunity to offer an at-home alternative to dining out.

Staying at home: by the numbers

It’s yet to be seen when foodservice operators will reopen to the public, and consumers’ safety concerns about eating at restaurants will likely outlast government-mandated shelter-in-place orders and business closures. According to the third edition of Technomic’s 2020 Foodservice Impact Monitor, 77% of consumers said that, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, they’d likely dine out less often, and 59% said they were likely to order food or beverages to go from restaurants less often as well. In short, many consumers will be putting a pause on restaurant patronage in general.

Comfort foods at home

However, consumers are still interested in treating themselves and their families to a special meal. Especially on stressful days, it makes sense that comfort food would be in high demand. Grocers have the opportunity to bring the elevated flavors of a restaurant meal to customers at home.

The key lies in offering high-quality ingredients. For customers looking to replicate a restaurant experience or upgrade their kitchen staples, premium products are a winning solution. Grocers can help consumers make a home-cooked meal special by upgrading the ingredients available.

Trading up to a specialty cheese, for example, is one of the easiest ways for consumers to create a luxurious version of their favorite comfort foods at home. A handcrafted Parmesan, such as the award-winning Cello Copper Kettle Parmesan from Schuman Cheese, transforms any pasta dish into an authentic Italian experience. For an even easier option, the Cello Prepared Cheese Flight features a trio of cheeses to pair with wine or beer—perfect for creating a restaurant-style cheese plate in seconds. Schuman’s selection of exclusive imported cheeses adds an extra touch of luxury, giving any homemade meal authentic global flavor with products such as Zanetti Grana Padano from Italy, Dodoni feta from Greece or Torero Matador manchego from Spain.

With a full line of traditional and innovative premium cheeses, Schuman supplies the simple-yet-sophisticated ingredients consumers need to make their favorite dishes at home. To learn more about how Schuman can help grocers meet heightened consumer demands for high-quality comfort food ingredients, visit schumancheese.com/retail.