Holiday Grocery Shopping: Motivators & Influences Shift
In planning for the holidays, especially with the increase of in-person celebrations, groceries and meal planning are significant components of spending plans. While half of all consumers (51%) plan to do most of their holiday grocery shopping at a conventional grocery store, they are also considering value oriented retailers. One in four shoppers plan to do their holiday grocery shopping at Walmart; one in ten shoppers plan to choose a club store.
The top factors influencing brand choice will be flavor and lowest price. Over 75% of shoppers indicated that they are interested in purchasing seasonally-flavored items. Additionally, it is important to note that the overall value equation is not necessarily driven by the lowest price in the total category assortment, but rather the lowest price in the shopper’s consideration set. With factors like brand familiarity, premium quality, and reliability ranked directly below lowest price, it’s clear that brand trust and quality are still important.
Potato Market Update
Russet potato demand has slowed down after the Thanksgiving holiday. This will be a short-lived lull before the Christmas holiday is here. Pricing remains steady on all sizes, with upward pressure on the larger-sized russet potatoes.
Our grower partners in Canada had an excellent growing season and completed their storage crop red potato supply. Overall supply availability is slightly higher than last year due to improved growing/harvesting conditions.
Storage crop yellow potato supplies are clearing up in Wisconsin. Supplies remain available from growers in Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado, Idaho and Canada. Pricing has increased over the last several weeks due to Wisconsin’s higher demand and lack of availability.
Not much has changed in the white potato market. Supply and demand continue to gravitate to the Northeast and Southeast. Pricing remains very steady.
Demand in fingerling potato supply remains steady. Pricing remains higher than usual.
Onion Market Update
The demand for consumer and medium-sized yellow onions over Thanksgiving was robust, with growers seeing a solid market. Demand has been steady for growers in the Columbia Basin and Idaho areas. The overall quality continues to remain strong as we head into December.
All three colors of onions remain in good supply, with larger sizes being the tightest.
You still have time! See Team RPE at the New York Produce Show!
