The Retail Rundown: The August Outlook

August is here and the end to the dog days of summer is in sight—a much-needed pick me up for the protein industry following what is typically a sluggish period for sales post-July 4th.

Grocers are gearing up for Labor Day weekend, roughly four weeks out and the first major retail buying occasion since Independence Day. In the meantime, circulars are already showcasing back-to-school staples including breakfast items and sandwich ingredients as some students begin to return to the classrooms. 

According to the latest Circana data for the week...

Subway Elevates Menu with New Freshly Sliced Meats Highlighted by Four New Deli Subs Piled High 

Subway announces the arrival of freshly sliced meats in U.S. restaurants – its latest and biggest change since the brand began its efforts to improve every aspect of the guest experience, headlined by a better menu, which began in 2021.
To showcase freshly sliced meats*, Subway revealed a major expansion of its Subway Series menu with a new category called Deli Heroes, a collection of the ultimate deli subs. These authentic, deli-style sandwiches, ordered by name and number, will satisfy the strongest deli cravings...

Hormel Foods Presents Food-Forward Solutions to Meet Consumer Entertaining Needs at Int'l Show

The deli of the past is not the deli of the future. It's no longer a place where consumers merely order a pound of their favorite protein sliced to a desired thickness. Today, terms like "charcuterie" and "artisanal" are heard just as often as classic phrases like "half pound" and "paper thin."

Deli products are gaining footholds in the consumer marketplace, quickly becoming the primary food solution for consumers' entertaining needs. That is precisely why Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) will be showcasing its extensive portfolio...

REPORTER: Despite Steep Costs, Consumers Still Spending at Deli

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2023 Edition of Urner Barry’s Reporter magazine. Want a FREE subscription? Click HERE.

It would be an understatement to say consumers are laying out more money than ever before. Inflation and all that comes with it have dominated the news cycles for months and the end doesn’t necessarily appear near—at least at the time of this publication. This uptick, coinciding with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has shocked many in the turkey industry for the better part of the year...