Discretionary dollars are becoming tighter as consumers continue to be impacted by inflation leading to a shift in instore bakery and deli purchase decisions, said Jannah Jablonowski, public relations manager for Giant Eagle.

Under these circumstances, she added, bakery purchases may become less frequent, so product quality and the introduction of new and seasonal items become important opportunities to drive customer engagement.

In the deli, meanwhile, it’s more common to see shoppers trade down to try to save money.

“Consumers may be purchasing less in each shopping trip or selecting value-focused offerings instead of choosing premium options,” Jablonowski said. “In order to drive sales despite these challenges, we’re focusing on presenting limited-time seasonal items and leaning into trending flavors to capture interest. We also prioritize cross merchandising plans that showcase a meal or occasion solution to customers.”

This article is an excerpt from the June 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Inflation feature and more in the digital edition here.