Recent Consumer Trends Open the Door for Increased Beef Sales

Many consumers are continuing to tighten their belts and pinch their pennies in response to the on-going slump in the economy. Data from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) 2009 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends study sheds light on the ways consumers are changing their shopping habits to cut costs and stretch their food dollars. According to the report, consumers are focusing on price and value at the supermarket. For retailers, this signals an opportunity to position beef as a meal solution that offers great value to consumers.

Take a look at the summaries below, revealing the trends most relevant to you as well as tips on how you can use the data to keep beef in the shopping cart and at the center of the plate.

More Consumers Eating at Home

The sluggish economy has had a definite impact on dining out. According to the FMI study, 69% of consumers say they are eating out less. In addition to saving money by “eating in,” 92% say they eat healthier when dining at home. Seize this opportunity to remind customers they can enjoy restaurant-quality steaks and roasts at terrific prices, while offering their families the superior nutrition of beef.

Take advantage of Middle Meat Mania to feature steaks and roasts from the rib and loin; current low wholesale prices mean you can give your customers tremendous savings on tender, flavorful beef cuts. Your customers can enjoy a steakhouse experience at home, and you can enjoy increased profits.
Capitalize on the current excitement surrounding middle meats by offering innovative cuts and packaging through Beef Alternative Merchandising (BAM). This program offers middle meats cut into smaller portions to meet the needs of your customers with smaller appetites or those who want to enjoy tender and delicious middle meat cuts at a lower purchase price.
Visit Nutrition Central to learn more about how you can spread the good word about beef’s excellent nutrition profile.

Consumers Looking for Easy Meal Solutions

Convenience is the name of the game when it comes to dinner preparation. According to the FMI study, consumers are looking for easy meal choices that save time and money; 48% of consumers want easy-to-make recipes, and 28% would like convenient placement in the store for dinner items such as pasta, sauce, bread, meat and salad.

Check out the Beef Recipes & Photography section for easy recipe cards that simplify meal planning and shopping for your customers.
Access customer handouts for brochures like Lean Beef One Dish Meals that appeal to customers’ desire for easy-to-prepare, healthy beef meals.
Merchandise with complete meal solutions in mind. For example, create signage that says “Make Tonight Burger Night” and display all the ingredients in the meat department to make an easy grilled supper: ground beef, buns, canned baked beans and corn-on-the-cob. Your customers will love the one-stop shopping.

Using the resources outlined above gives you the opportunity to reach customers through effective merchandising that helps keep their focus on beef despite today’s tough economic conditions.

Source: FMI 2009 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report