Taste, price, freshness, cleanliness and quality are the attributes consumers value most in the deli. Fewer consumers put a high value on organic, local, and imported designations than they did during the economic boom. Instead, consumers are looking for value.
According the IDDBA research, deli meat shoppers are using a number of tactics to get more protein for their penny. These include opting for prepackaged meats over sliced-to-order meats from the service deli, purchasing sandwich meats from the meat department rather than the deli department, and becoming less brand-focused and more discount-focused. In the words of one shopper, The price per pound of deli items has increased too much, so I look for sales.