Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022 - 13

consumer choice in the marketplace. However, we believe plant-based
products should be truthfully and accurately named or labeled in a
manner that clearly discloses what they are or the process by which
they were made. "
Calling plant-based products that may resemble or taste like chicken
" chicken " is deceptive, and the council believes USDA would hold the
same view, Super said.
" When consumers are shopping for chicken, they should remember
the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song, 'Ain't nothing like the real
thing,' " he said.
The development of marketable plant-based products is something
everyone in the meat and poultry business is tracking, Breeding said.
But the growth of the segment does not necessarily mean reduced
demand for turkey products.
" Plant-based alternatives to the Thanksgiving turkey have been
available for decades, but these products have not replaced demand for
the traditional holiday centerpiece. The same likely will prove true for
other cuts. "
Plant-based meat alternatives definitely have their place in the meat
case, Roerink said. But household penetration of refrigerated plantbased
items is only about 10%, and half of those have only bought
plant-based once.
" Given the explosion of offerings in the marketplace, it's important
to understand what the right number of items is in the meat case
depending on who shops at the store, " she said. " In highly urban areas,
for instance, more space may be warranted than in rural areas or
small towns. "
It's also important to remember, she added, that it's not just about the
sales of the item, but also the opportunity cost of what could have been
sold instead. For instance, initially many retailers cut back on beef and
pork SKUs to make room for refrigerated plant-based meat alternatives.
But in the past three years, beef has been the top performer in dollars
and pounds.
In the third quarter of 2021, Roerink said, plant-based meat alternative
sales decelerated, and that has a lot to do with distribution.
" Over the past few years, a lot of retailers added items and brands
giving alternatives more space. That's started to level off and, with it, the
automatic sales growth that comes with adding new items. "
Sales now have to go up against sales of prior years with the same
assortment, and that's where a lot of the deceleration and even decline
comes from, as the trial rate and especially the repeat purchase rates
haven't been where they need to be. Retailers are also studying where
the items are best placed within the meat case, she said. But it's
important to keep in mind that a lot of the suppliers who develop plantbased
meat alternatives are working hard on better tasting versions
with cleaner labels. They're also working on the incentivizing trial, as
evidenced by the high levels of promotional support.
Labor and logistics:
weathering the global supply slowdown
The turkey industry is working every day to mitigate any lingering
effects of the pandemic on the supply chain, including labor and
transportation, and ensure a supply of lean protein is available,
Breeding said.
Based on the successful completion of the industry's highest-demand
period, she is optimistic about that continuing in 2022.
" Moving product through the supply chain is an intricate process,
and NTF members continue navigating these issues to make sure retail
customers are served, " she said. " Every American who wanted a turkey
at Thanksgiving was able to find one at an affordable price, and we're
confident that momentum will continue into the new year. "
Like most industries in the United States right now, chicken
processors are grappling with a tight labor supply, Super said. But labor
challenges are nothing new to the industry - processors have been
adapting to meet those challenges for years.
Processing plants, he said, have been embracing more automation,
offering even more competitive wage rates and attractive benefit
packages, creatively managing shifts, offering flexible work schedules,
and hosting job fairs, all in an effort to attract more workers.
supermarketperimeter.com
JANUARY 2022 - 13
Food safety first
Most shoppers know the basics about washing their
hands and keeping fresh meats separated from fresh
produce and other foods.
But remembering which temperatures to cook
meats can be a harder ask, as temperatures vary
widely.
Retailer Lunds and Byerly's does a great job
educating its shoppers about the right
temperature for their value-added burgers.
" It's a little effort that can pay off in big
gratitude, " said Anne-Marie Roerink, president of
San Antonio-based 210 Analytics. " The retailing and
meat industry enjoy very high levels of confidence
among consumers as it relates to the safety of food.
And that's for a reason. The industry has worked and
continues to work extremely hard on food safety. It
is the foundation that we have to get right and that
everything else stacks on top of. "
http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Supermarket Perimeter - January 2022
