IDDBA consumer research clearly supports that statement and overall theme (as demonstrated in the tables on the right, supplied by IDDBA), but it appears that the deli category is well-positioned to serve the new consumer point of view. Take, for instance, data from Information Resources Inc. that shows total category dollar sales up 3.1 percent from the same 52-week period, ending Sept. 6, 2009. The deli category is growing — maybe not in leaps and bounds, but in this economy, some growth is better than the cliff-diving some industries are doing.
Processors have responded to the consumers’ demands for value and convenience. As you can see on the upcoming pages of this report, we’ve highlighted some of the more innovative deli products we found over the last year, with our Deli Processing Awards. Also, deli processors are making their voices heard, touting the quality and value of their products like never before. Case in point: Deitz & Watson’s recent blitz of marketing, as discussed in “Dietz & Watson’s call for fair play” on page 16 of this report.