SAN ANTONIO – After a successful Father’s Day sales weekend, sales in the grocery perimeter fell below the double digit rise over 2019 sales the week of June 28. According to the latest data from 210 Analytics and IRI, the total fresh perimeter experienced an 8.2% bump in sales over the same timeframe in 2019. 

“We expected that the non-holiday week would mean a return to the small erosion of week-to-week sales gains,” said Jeremy Johnson, vice president of education for the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA). “And there is an important lesson in that. While next week’s report covers July 4th, which we expect to be big, we have many non-holiday weeks between Independence and Labor Day. It will be imperative to go back to retailing fundamentals to drive dairy, deli and bakery sales through optimized household engagement, trip frequency and basket size within the new normal.” 

Still in double digit dollar sales gains, the meat department totaled sales 15.8% above sales in the same timeframe of 2019. Volume sales gains, however, fell into the negative, down 0.6% for the category. The heightened dollar sales continue to stem from enhanced meat prices across the category.     

Dollar wise, lamb (up 39.1%), beef (25.7%) and pork (up 21.8%) were the top performing meats. Chicken was up 11.8% and turkey was up 20.4%.    

The deli department went back to continued mixed results the week of June 28, with the entire department down 11.3%. Deli cheese sales were up 8.4%, deli meat sales were up 5.8% and deli prepared was down 23.1%. 

“During the final week of June, deli prepared assortment remained down about 16% versus normal levels,” said Eric Richard, industry relations coordinator with IDDBA. “Prepackaged means we have to make very careful decisions on assortment, focusing on high velocity, highly profitable items that help us differentiate from the competition. As restaurant business is gearing up, now is the time to be very visible with deli offerings and make access very easy.”