3 Merchandising Tips to Connect With Meal Planning Shoppers
Meal planning is here to stay, and it presents a big opportunity for food retailers.
Between inflation and economic uncertainty, shoppers are increasingly budget-conscious. That means more strategic purchasing, more planning around meals, and more cooking at home. In fact, at least 2 out of 3 shoppers do some degree of meal planning, according to research from FMI’s The Power of Foodservice at Retail Report.
What Can Food Retailers Do to Build Loyalty With Today’s Meal Planning Shoppers?
The shift toward more meal planning and home cooking opens up opportunities for food retailers to inspire shopper loyalty with innovative merchandising and fast, easy meal solutions.
Here’s how you can adjust your merchandising strategy to attract and satisfy your meal-planning shoppers:
Start With the Right Case
The first step for any successful merchandising strategy is selecting the right display case. Choose a flexible, versatile and dependable case that makes it easy to show off a variety of prepared foods.
The i2i Modular Island is an ideal choice because it is completely customizable, with options for refrigerated, hot or dry products that can be adapted for your specific needs. Merchandise everything from floral bouquets to prepared deli salads to bakery items in one destination. With options for multi-deck displays, hot bar, cold bar, soups and more, the i2i can help you become the meal planning hero your shoppers are looking for. Plus, it fits easily into any floor plan with footprint options ranging from narrow to wide.
Showcase Convenience
Make your shoppers’ lives easier with quick and easy meal ideas, and they’ll remember you for it.
According to the report, the prepared food categories seeing the most growth include handheld entrees, main courses and complete meals. Meet your shoppers’ need for convenience by creating one or more island displays full of complete meal solutions and grab-and-go options. Make it easy for busy shoppers to stock up for the week and be on their way—so the next time they need to stock up, your store is top of mind.
Mix and Match
Another trend that popped up in the report is the “hybrid” approach to dinner: mixing prepared items with some from-scratch components to create a meal.
Capture attention with displays that include a combination of prepared options and complementary ingredients that elevate or complete a meal. Think rotisserie chicken along with tortillas, salsa, cheese and lettuce for tacos that feel homemade without the work, or a selection of gourmet toppings with your premade pizzas so shoppers can personalize and enhance dinner without much effort.
Don’t Forget Breakfast
Your shoppers are planning beyond dinner. More shoppers are eating breakfast (and lunch!) at home, and they’re looking for easy solutions to make each meal simple.
Dinner is still the number one meal shoppers eat at home, but breakfast is close behind and shoppers are eager for fast solutions that keep them nourished all day long. Get creative with merchandising that speaks to occasions across dayparts. A one-stop display with single-serve overnight oats, high-protein yogurt and fresh fruit primes shoppers to gather their breakfast essentials and makes morning mealtime easier.
Hillphoenix can help you create in-store destinations that support shoppers planning breakfast, lunch and dinner. With so many customizable specialty display cases, we make it easy for you to make your shoppers’ lives easier.
For 138+ years, we’ve been providing food retailers with refrigeration solutions and for 90+ years, we’ve been delivering merchandising insights that make an impact. We’re proud to share our research and insights so food retailers can improve shopper experience, build loyalty and boost basket ring at the same time.
About the Research
These are just a few of the insights uncovered in FMI’s The Power of Foodservice at Retail Report, sponsored by Hillphoenix. The report contains data and analysis based on real shopper feedback, offering an in-depth look at foodservice at retail through the shopper’s eye.