Page 55 - Demo

HOME FOCUS BRINGS BIG RISE FOR SMALLGOODS DELI & SMALLGOODS Retail World finds out how the smallgoods category is faring in this year of the pandemic. BTy Nicholas Rider. he smallgoods category in the Australian grocery market has grown at 12.3 per cent in value compared with last year, with the latest quarter showing a “surge” of 19.6 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2019 (MarketEdge, Smallgoods Deli+Dairy Database, National Grocery, dollar growth % MAT To 9/8/20 versus YA, supplied by IRI). According to IRI Senior Consultant Akash Ramesh, this is primarily a result of panic buying and increased consumption at home. “The packaged section has been instrumental in driving this, seeing a 21.3 per cent increase vs last year, and overshadowing deli (up 6.4 per cent versus last year), which has grown at a much slower pace \\\\\\\[MarketEdge, Smallgoods Deli+Dairy Database, National Grocery, dollar growth % MAT To 9/8/20 versus YA\\\\\\\],” he said. “With the fast-changing pandemic situation and social distancing rules, shoppers aren’t keen to spend too much time in the supermarket and have a preference for pre-packaged meats. This has made the dairy section a fast and convenient route to purchase the category. “Additionally, we’re seeing the TO PAGE 54 DON TO PERFECTION FOR ‘SIMPLE PLEASURE’ Don Smallgoods continues to be Australia’s “most loved and recognised” smallgoods brand (Kantar TNS Brand Health Tracker, March 2020, supplied by Don), connecting Australian families through moments of the “simple pleasure” of smallgoods. The brand is also claimed to be Victoria’s largest employer. Today, the brand says it’s proud of its full range of quality products including hams, bacon, salami, franks and continentals. All Don’s smallgoods production is coordinated from its Castlemaine site in Victoria, where it operates a “state-of- the-art” facility on a huge scale covering about 5.5 acres under roof. OCT, 2020 RETAIL WORLD 53