The Retail Rundown: Egg Retail Looks Ahead to Holiday Baking Demand 

Grocers are entering a key period for egg demand, as seasonal baking and an uptick in home cooking typically support purchases toward year-end. However, the holiday boost has yet to translate into stronger consumer demand, with feature activity easing in recent weeks.

According to the USDA’s latest Feature Activity report, national egg feature activity declined to 39.5% from 45.8% the previous week, but remained above the 32.1% during the same period last year. 

At retail, shelf prices remain largely unchanged, while wholesale egg prices are hovering at multi-year lows, potentially...

FMI Report Shows Prepared Foods are Becoming Part of How Shoppers Build Meals at Home

The Food Industry Association (FMI) has released the 11th edition of its annual report series examining consumer behaviors and shopping patterns around deli-prepared foods in grocery stores.

The latest findings in The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2026 suggest grocery prepared foods are now a regular part of how consumers approach meals at home, with many shoppers blending store-prepared items with home cooking rather than treating foodservice as a separate occasion. The survey was conducted online using Qualtrics...

The Retail Rundown: Fall Meat Trends Take Shape

Fall is officially here, and the meat case is beginning to reflect the seasonal shift from grilling to roasting and slow cooking. USDA’s latest national feature data show retailers adjusting the mix, with beef roasts gaining attention while chicken and pork continue to provide plenty of promotional activity.

On the beef side, the national feature rate slipped to 84.9% for the week ending Sept. 24, down from 89.0% the previous week. Ground beef activity has been easing as grilling season winds down, while roast and round cuts are gaining ground...

Stop & Shop Recalls Two Deli & Produce Items After Being Alerted of Potential for Salmonella

Out of an abundance of caution, Stop & Shop is recalling two deli and produce items after being alerted by the manufacturer that its jalapeno supplier has initiated a recall due to the potential for salmonella. This is part of a broader, voluntary recall by jalapeno supplier Coast Citrus Distributors. All impacted products at all Stop & Shop stores have been removed from sale.

The two deli and produce items impacted by this recall are as follows...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Pivot to Back-to-School and Football Season

August marks one of grocers' busiest seasonal transitions as retailers work to capture the final weeks of summer while preparing for back-to-school routines, Labor Day cookouts, and the start of football season.

Store circulars are increasingly shifting from vacation essentials to lunchbox staples, breakfast foods, and snacks. Retailers are also capitalizing on the broader protein trend by highlighting products that deliver both nutrition and convenience, with deli meats and ready-to-eat offerings prominently featured. 

USDA retail feature activity indicates this emphasis on fresh proteins, with ground beef serving as a key traffic driver...

The Retail Rundown: Holiday Heat Wave Tests Cookout Plans While Retailers Push Summer Favorites

The Independence Day holiday weekend has arrived, and with the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday in 2026, consumers are expected to celebrate with cookouts and gatherings throughout the extended weekend.

However, grilling plans across much of the Central and Eastern portions of the nation may be challenged by forecasts calling for extreme heat. Many consumers will be watching the forecast to determine whether conditions will cooperate for fireworks displays and outdoor celebrations. 

This week's grocery advertisements continue to spotlight popular summer and meal-time...

Jersey Mike's Unseats Chick-fil-A as America's Top-Rated QSR, ACSI Finds

Jersey Mike's has claimed the top spot in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2026, ending Chick-fil-A's 11-year run as the highest-rated quick-service restaurant brand.

The chain earned an industry-leading customer satisfaction score of 84 as overall restaurant satisfaction remained steady. Quick-service restaurants held an ACSI score of 79 for the third consecutive year, while full-service restaurants maintained a score of 82, continuing to rank among the...

The Retail Rundown: Post-Holiday Reset Brings Value Back to the Center of the Case

Grocery merchandising is settling into a post-holiday rhythm as promotional activity shifts back toward value, versatility, and the everyday traffic drivers following the Memorial Day push.

Staples such as bacon, chicken breasts, and ground beef continue to anchor store traffic, reinforcing the meat case’s role in everyday meal planning. While current merchandising remains focused on routine household needs, retailers are expected to increase seasonal promotions and feature activity as Father's Day and the Fourth of July draw closer.

In beef, chuck cuts posted the...

Boar's Head® Unveils The Fryer's™ Deep Fried* Turkey Breast, Redefining Deli Indulgence

Boar's Head Brand_®, one of the nation's leading providers of fine crafted delicatessen foods, today announced the launch of its newest deli offering, The Fryer's_™ Deep Fried^* Turkey Breast. This signature addition to the Boar's Head portfolio brings the savory flavor of a traditional deep-fried turkey to the deli counter year-round.

To celebrate the launch, Boar's Head is debuting a fully integrated national media campaign across television, audio, digital, and social platforms. The campaign kicks-off today with a high-impact activation on Sphere's Exosphere in Las Vegas today...

UNFI Identifies Key Trends Shaping Fresh Departments for Retailers in 2026

While shoppers are spending more deliberately, the fresh departments are still earning their attention. Categories including produce, floral, bakery, deli, specialty cheese, meat, and seafood are outperforming the rest of the store, with fresh product sales up 3.7% year over year*.

That performance reflects shifting shopper expectations: better taste, stronger nutrition, added convenience, and more transparency from the products they buy.

For retailers, success in fresh now depends on understanding these drivers and partnering with experts who can translate trends into execution on the sales floor.

Ron Selders, UNFI’s President...