June 10, 2019 — Two large seafood suppliers are banking on the fast-paced sales growth in supermarket delis with new product launches.
San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based Anova Food launched seared ahi tuna steaks and tuna poke at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) conference in Orlando, Florida, which took place 2 to 4 June. Worcestershire, United Kingdom-based SeafreshGroup also unveiled a line of new seasoned marinated shrimp for grocers’ deli cases at the trade show.
In the U.S., the deli departments of supermarkets are growing faster than most other departments, as the demand for prepared foods and meals rises among millennials and other consumers. Nearly three-quarters of grocers said their deli sales rose in 2018, and more than 80 percent said they anticipate additional growth during 2019, according to a recent Progressive Grocer survey.
“The growth in supermarkets is in prepared foods, along with natural and organic foods. Millennials are looking for more grab-and-go items,” Gregory Cobble, director of sales at SeafreshGroup, told SeafoodSource at IDDBA. For example, Whole Foods features a number of different deli/ prepared seafood items, such as shrimp ceviche and tuna poke, Cobble said.