Supermarket Perimeter - September 2023 - 34

Deli: Imported meats
" I wouldn't say prosciutto di parma is mainstream, but Italian is
definitely mainstream, " he said. " Spanish is a bit more niche. It's popular
in areas where there are big Hispanic populations, like the Northeast,
California and Texas. "
Charcuterie's role
It's no mystery what's driving demand for imported meats, Munck said:
the continuing explosion in popularity of charcuterie.
" Charcuterie has been one of the top appetizer trends in restaurants,
and what starts in restaurants goes down to retail. Charcuterie gives
consumers a lot of customization. And a lot more people are going back
to entertaining again, getting back together, and they're interested in
experiencing global foods. "
The imported influence can even be felt in some of Sigma's
domestically-made deli meats. Fiorucci Calabrese, for instance, is made
in the US, but the spices used in the production from the Calabria
region of Italy.
Sigma also continues to see growth in sales of variety packs designed
for sandwiches, which contain salami, pepperoni and prosciutto or
soppressata.
" We've recently had strong distribution with a couple of national
retailers, " Munck said.
Looking ahead, Sigma is expecting big growth in on-the-go Italian
and Spanish deli meat snacking products, Munck said.
" More grocery stores, like Walmart, are expanding with grab-and-go
sections, charcuterie in more of a compact form. "
In its panino snacking line, Fiorucci is trying to diversity, with new
flavors like pizza, pepperoni pepperjack and fruit-infused, Munck
said. Sigma had a successful trail run of some of the new products
with Publix, part of the chain's 100 Days of Summer promotion. " We'll
protect our core portfolio, but also look into more seasonal and LTO
opportunities, too, " Munck said. In 2024, Sigma will also be focusing on
more all-natural, clean-label imported deli meat products. Part of that
has to do with the implementation of California's Prop 12, part with
consumer demand across the country.
" We continue to see consumers looking at what they're buying,
looking at ingredient statements, and we're providing the cleanest
labels we can. "
Expanding palates
In 2016, Veroni became the first Italian company to import made-inItaly
deli meats to the US, said Emanuela Bigi, marketing manager.
Products imported range from prosciutto to regional specialties like
coppa and traditional salami, all featured in easy-to-open trays.
" We've always aimed to introduce American consumers to regional
cured meats that are still little known in the US - mortadella, for
instance, which has nothing to do with bologna - with good results. "
Prosciutto and spicy salame, however, remain the most popular for
Veroni. The company's best-selling products are the maxi platters from
its antipasto line, especially those with Italian prosciutto, provolone,
salame Calabrese, and salame Milano.
In addition to offering high-quality products, another part of Veroni's
mission, Bigi said, is to introduce US consumers to other Italian
traditions, like the aperitivo and the Italian take on " snack time. "
" Our product roster changed in these terms, " she said. " In 2020
we launched the AperiTime line to offer ready-to-open and share
charcuterie board trays featuring the best Italian charcuterie paired with
dried fruits or breadsticks. "
Over the past several years, Veroni has introduced other
combinations to this lineup to better satisfy Americans' favorite flavors.
And the launch of the snack line has been designed to capitalize on
the growing grab-and-go trend and simultaneously offer a rich-inprotein
snack solution that comes in practical packaging to always take
with you.
Another winning addition for Veroni has been the new combination
of the Maxi Antipasto line: Speck, Coppa, Salame Toscano, and Salame
Calabrese. The 12-ounce packs feature charcuterie only (no cheese).
The access to imported deli meats from Italy, Spain, Germany and
other countries with long-standing tradition of high-quality charcuterie
has allowed American consumers to enjoy an indulgent restaurant
experience with their family or small gatherings in the comfort of their
home at a fraction of the cost, Bigi said.
" Charcuterie is easy to fix and consume, especially for Aperitivo
and quick snacks. In addition to that, now younger generations are
sustaining the growth of this segment as charcuterie is high in protein,
gluten-free, flavor-packed, versatile, and ready to eat as a snack
or meal. "
Crafting " epic " charcuterie boards is a trend that has outlasted others,
Bigi said, because it picked up steam during the pandemic period and
has remained hot.
What consumers now look for most, she added, is quality. Thanks to
the ancient recipes that Veroni's family passed down from generation
to generation, the Italian charcuterie tradition, and high-quality raw
material, Veroni is capitalizing on the quality trend.
34 - SEPTEMBER 2023
supermarketperimeter.com
Imported meats
from Veroni and
other suppliers gives
consumers a highend
restaurant
experience at home.
Veroni
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Supermarket Perimeter - September 2023

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