Prepared foods still dominate

Chloe Riley is the Executive Editor of Supermarket News, which delivers the ultimate in competitive business intelligence, news and information for executives in the food retail and grocery industry. A graduate of the School of Journalism at Columbia College Chicago, Chloe previously served as a Digital Strategist at SEO firm Profound Strategy, Associate Editor at B2B hospitality mag HOTELS Magazine, as well as CEO of her own digital strategy company, Chlowe. She lives in Woodstock, Illinois. 

Prepared foods continue to dominate at grocery, according to our 2023 Supermarket News Fresh Food Trends Survey, which surveys retailers and industry professionals about fresh trends. 

Some 65% of you said you plan to increase your assortment of prepared foods over the next 12 months, and another 46% of you said you plan to commit more space to prepared foods this year. 

The past year was tougher for food retailers than the previous year. Nearly one in five of you reported a decrease in sales for perimeter categories (compared with just  4% of you reporting a decrease the year before.) 

But optimism abounds. Operators are optimistic going into next year (65% of you expect increases over the next 12 months).

You also had this to say:

“The fresh perimeter continues to be a growth area for independent grocers,” says Laura Strange, SVP of communications and external affairs for the National Grocers Association.

And indeed: according to our survey, fresh sales continue to be a driver for most supermarkets, with 60% of you saying perimeter sales had increased over the last year. 

Let’s hear it for growth. The people continue to want fresh (and prepared foods). Let’s give the people what they want.