Deli numbers have seen tremendous change over the past year, with deli inflation starting to cool.
Amid widespread unit and volume pressure in departments and categories across the entire grocery store, the deli prepared aisle is largely holding its own. With shoppers favoring more just-in-time shopping, immediately consumable foods take on a new importance to the store, said Jonna Parker, team lead Fresh with Circana (formerly IRI). Deli-prepared foods generated $1.9 billion July and improved unit sales above year-ago levels.