June Sales Surge in Deli and Meat Departments

June saw robust performance in the supermarket deli and fresh meat departments, with consumers spending significantly on prepared meats, specialty cheese, and party trays, according to recent reports from 210 Analytics and Circana.

Despite the mid-week July 4th holiday, which pushed some sales into July, other events like Father’s Day and graduations helped drive June’s strong sales. In addition to gains in deli and meats, fresh produce and several frozen categories also saw impressive performances.

Deli Sales Continue Their Hot Streak

The deli department posted an overall sales gain of 3.2% in June, reaching $4.3 billion. Prepared meats led the way with a 12.4% increase in sales compared to last year, driving a 5.1% rise in the deli prepared category. Sales of entrées, sandwiches, sides, pizzas, combo meals, and desserts also saw solid growth.

Specialty cheese sales surged 3.6%, and deli entertaining, including deli trays, grew by 3.7%, with deli tray sales up 11%. Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at 210 Analytics, remarked, “The deli department fired on all cylinders.”

Inflation Impacts Fresh Meat Sales

Fresh meat sales saw a 3.7% increase in dollar sales, reaching $5.6 billion in June. Beef, while facing inflation, had a notable performance with a 5% rise in dollar sales despite a slight decrease in pounds sold. Bacon, experiencing a reversal of deflation from 2023, rose by 6.4% in sales, with an 11.5% price increase. Pork saw a similar pattern, driven by a 7.1% inflation, leading to a 0.8% rise in dollar sales despite a 5.8% decrease in pounds sold.

Fresh chicken, turkey, lamb, and exotic meats also performed well in both dollars and pounds, with fresh chicken up 2.6% in dollars and 2.2% in pounds.

Melons, Grapes, and Mandarins Propel Produce Sales

Consumers flocked to fresh produce, with total sales rising 2.1% to $7.6 billion in June. Fresh fruit sales surged by 3.4%, driven by strong performances from melons, grapes, and mandarins. Melon sales grew by 4.1%, with a 7.6% increase in pounds sold. Grapes saw a remarkable 17.5% increase in pounds sold, partially fueled by a viral TikTok trend promoting frozen grapes as a snack. Mandarins posted a 23% increase in dollar sales with an 18.8% rise in pounds sold.

Frozen Sales Gains in Desserts and Processed Meats

Frozen food categories also saw growth in June, with frozen dessert sales rising by 3.7%, contributing to a 1.9% increase in the overall frozen foods department. Processed meat sales grew 9.5%, and frozen baked goods were up 6.3%. However, sales of frozen seafood declined by 3.8%, while fresh seafood also saw a drop of 3% in June.

“Frozen food sales are back in the black, and growth is accelerating,” Roerink noted. Despite some areas like frozen meals showing flat growth, other frozen food segments like desserts and processed meats remained strong.

In conclusion, June’s strong performance across deli, meat, and produce sections signals continued consumer demand for high-quality, fresh, and convenient food options.