Jim Olson, SPINS Senior Retail Insights Manager
The 2024 holiday season is nearly upon us! If you’re a retailer, chances are your attention is split between reading this article and finalizing the last details of your holiday assortment. Employee schedules are locked in, end-of-year orders are placed, and the only thing that’s left to do is stock! For those with a little wiggle room to fill, here are some key holiday insights courtesy of SPINS.
November
Once the leaves change colors, it’s time for holiday hosting season. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or just a classic family gathering, customers will be looking to accommodate a variety of guests and a variety of dietary preferences.
Looking back at INFRA sales in November 2023, vegan-aligned products were up 2% in dollar sales with a particular stand-out being Refrigerated Plant-Based Loaves & Roasts (+83%). vegetarian-aligned items were also up 2%, with Potato-Based Shelf Stable Entrees growing at 66%. Paleo-diet-related items also grew 4%, with Shelf Stable Pie Crusts & Fillings (+36%).
November is also when shoppers seek out storage options for all those leftovers, and eco-friendly storage products have grown in popularity. This is especially true at INFRA where 6 of the top 10 selling brands in Storage Bags & Wraps category are naturally and/or sustainably focused, including If You Care (+17%), Compostic (+112%), and BioBag (4%).
December
The final month of the year offers plenty of opportunities for the usual holiday merchandising, but outside of the candy canes and cookies, don’t forget about the least popular guest at your gathering – germs!
Winter is peak time for cold and flu season, so make sure you’re stocked up accordingly. INFRA’s top-selling categories within medicine and personal health last December included Topical Ear & Nasal & Eye Care (+25%) and Internal OTC Cold & Flu (37%). With INFRA’s Shelf Stable Soup & Crackers categories both up 5% last December, don’t rule out some clever cross-merchandising endcap opportunities as well!
Whatever the reason or the season, SPINS can help you make efficient, effective product mix decisions all year long. Happy Holidays!
#IndustryNews
#INFRANews
#INFRABlog
#RealDeal