1 in 4 Shoppers Say Deli-Prepared Food Lacks Variety

A quarter of surveyed shoppers said their grocer's deli-prepared foods section lacks variety, especially in health-focused products and global cuisines, according to FMI – The Food Industry Association.

What does the finding signal for grocers?

The survey result points to a concrete assortment problem in a department that grocers have positioned as a growth engine. Shoppers who visit the prepared foods station are not finding the range they expect, and the shortfalls cluster in two areas FMI identified: health-focused products and global cuisines.

Where are the specific gaps?

FMI's findings highlight demand that current deli-prepared offerings do not fully meet:

• Health-focused products: Shoppers want prepared options that fit health-oriented diets, and many report the assortment falls short.
• Global cuisines: Variety complaints extend to international flavors, an area where foodservice competitors have moved faster than supermarket delis.

What is the so-what for retailers?

For grocers, the survey quantifies a disconnect between what shoppers want from prepared foods and what the deli case delivers. With one in four customers already flagging variety as a weakness, the data gives merchandising teams a targeted mandate: expand health-forward and globally inspired prepared items before those shoppers shift more of those occasions to restaurants and other foodservice channels.