Southeast Produce Council Launches What’s New? Consumer Research at Southern Innovations; David Sherrod Details
CHARLOTTE, NC - Southern Innovations has officially arrived! The Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) anticipated event is bringing vital insights to our industry, especially as the organization has released its annual What’s New? 2023 consumer research in a sold-out educational session at the show.
“Only one-third of consumers tend to consume fresh produce every day,” said David Sherrod, President and Chief Executive Officer of SEPC. “Additionally, 51 percent readily admit that they find it hard to reach the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables or are unsure what that amount even is. That means current consumption patterns leave ample room for growth for fresh, while recognizing the tough economic marketplace. We studied the big consumer-driven sales trends to understand how innovations within each area may reveal pockets of growth for the remainder of the year, going into 2024.”
Fielded in August of 2023, the online study among 1,887 consumers was conducted and presented by 210 Analytics, according to a press release.
The in-depth study dug into the following trends, uncovering critical information regarding consumer shopping behaviors:
- Value - Fresh produce promotions are powerful in the current climate, able to steer consumers to a different type of produce (73 percent), make an unplanned purchase (71 percent) or visit a different store (61 percent)
- Health and Wellbeing - Seventy-six percent of consumers buy produce items specifically for their known health benefits with Vitamin C as the big top-of-mind nutrient when consumers think about fresh fruit or vegetables
- Planet and People - Eighty-three percent of consumers believe grocery stores and restaurants should aim to reduce single-use plastic
- Convenience - Consumers are somewhat de-emphasizing convenience in their purchase decisions while highlighting health, taste, and value
- Technology - Digital remains a big source of meal inspiration and tips, led by recipe websites (39 percent of consumers), YouTube (28 percent), Facebook (26 percent), and other big social media platforms
To dive deeper into each of these trends, click here.
A complete copy of the findings can be requested by contacting Anna Burch at SEPC. Pioneering organizations will provide additional innovation-focused presentations in the What’s New? Theater on the exhibit floor.
More updates on this exciting show are on the way, so stick around!
