By: Lucinda Pierce, Specialist, Research & Insights, FMI
Food, specifically the Thanksgiving feast, is central to the celebration of Thanksgiving ("turkey day"), with cuisine and eating approaches that depart from the usual. This year, bird is still the word, with two-thirds of Americans planning to consume the traditional main course including turkey. Interestingly, of this 67% of consumers, only half plan to prepare it themselves. But what about that remaining third?
According to FMI's U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends: Holiday Season, tables will feature a variety of meats including fish/seafood (12%), poultry other than turkey (8%), other meats (20%) or a vegetable main dish (34%) in place of, or alongside turkey. For my large extended family from New Orleans, turkey is never the only main dish — we also serve seafood gumbo and honeyed ham, alongside mashed potatoes, dressing, and other warm veggie sides. We've even experimented with lamb chops, and last year I attempted to prepare my first duck. Thanksgiving offers the opportunity to prepare traditional meats one may not typically buy and take full advantage of the reason for the season.
One-Stop Shops for Holiday Essentials
When it comes to sourcing ingredients for their table, shoppers rely on a store, and more importantly channel choice, that can cater to their needs. For 56% of shoppers this means switching from their primary store to a different store, sometimes in search for festive nonfoods items. My neighborhood store stands out to me for going above and beyond at Thanksgiving by making themselves a one-stop shop for holiday needs. From a section of ingredients with coordinating recipes to seasonal dish and cookware, my store makes meal preparation and presentation easy and exciting.
Though how we celebrate, and who we celebrate with, may vary from year to year, food is the anchor of holiday traditions, and stores play a paramount role in the holiday's success. Learn more about consumer habits around the holidays, and the role of food retail in achieving these goals.
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