Happier Holidays for Grocers
Bridget Wasser, Meat Scientist and Executive Director of Meat Science and Supply Chain Outreach, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Centennial, Colo.
As you know, the holiday season will be upon us before we know it. A great way to entertain during the holiday season is DIY butchery – whether breaking down a strip loin to show off your skills, or using it as an opportunity to customize cuts for everyone in the family, DIY butchery [is] on trend.
This DIY butchery trend can be extended into the most popular cuts for holiday entertaining: roasts. To give home cooks a hand in the kitchen, the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand introduced the all-knowing beef expert Chuck Knows Beef. Not only does Chuck Knows Beef provide recipes, he also has great cooking tips, and even a sense of humor. Chuck can be easily accessed at his website or by simply enabling Chuck Knows Beef with Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant devices.
Andrew Quinn, Senior Brand Manager, Deli, Hormel Foods, Austin, Minn.
Approximately 90% of Americans entertain in their home at least once a year. The occasion and the food they serve can vary, based on how formal (or informal) the occasion is. Millennials embrace new foods and seek to share those experiences with their social circle at their next holiday or get-together. In fact, Millennials have spawned new “holidays,” or reasons to get together, outside of the traditional ones, such as Friendsgiving and Kentucky Derby parties.
Consumers are always looking for new and unique ways to entertain their guests, but the rapid rise in charcuterie has been a common trend that we are seeing. The idea of romancing meat, cheese and other accompaniments that complement one another aligns well with the various brands we have that play within this space. Hormel Gatherings party trays work well for the everyday occasion and are family favorites, whereas our line of Columbus craft meats offerings affords consumers the ability to craft their customer solutions.
There’s a fine balance between offering solutions that are easy for consumers to enjoy [and] educating consumers around what exists. Providing pairing recommendations across meat, cheese and various beverages helps consumers engage with our great products. Meat, cheese and crackers are a flexible staple of entertaining, which makes our Hormel Gatherings party trays or Columbus craft meats offerings perfect options for a variety of occasions.
The holidays are a great time of year to drive trial with consumers. With a heavy focus around gathering with friends and family for the holidays, it is a perfect opportunity to roll out new concepts.
There’s an opportunity to take concepts that have become mainstream offerings on menus across the country and bring them to life in the retail environment. While it is important to rely on eating trends with the development of innovation, the ideas must be executed in a fashion that aligns with how consumers use the products. Finding creative ways to bring appetizer favorites to life could prove to be a lucrative opportunity.