Acosta: Fresh foods poised to drive retail growth

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Fresh foods are emerging as a key growth engine across food retail as consumers increasingly prioritize quality, convenience and seamless shopping experiences, according to Acosta.

In a new analysis, John DuBois, vice president of fresh foods at Acosta, said fresh categories are increasingly important for differentiation, shopper loyalty and growth across retail and other food outlets.

“Today, fresh foods sit at the center of the consumer experience and remain one of the strongest drivers of differentiation, loyalty, and growth across edible outlets,” DuBois wrote.

Quality remains the foundation of the category, particularly because food safety incidents can erode consumer confidence beyond individual products or brands. At the same time, demand for prepared foods, meal kits, grab-and-go products, and restaurant-quality meal solutions continues to grow as shoppers seek convenient options without sacrificing quality.

DuBois said consumers increasingly base food purchases on meal occasions rather than on traditional retail channels. That behavior places greater emphasis on omnichannel capabilities as shoppers move among stores, apps, pickup, delivery, restaurants, and other food outlets.

Artificial intelligence is also beginning to influence fresh-food purchasing. Citing a Numerator survey, DuBois noted that 51% of shoppers have used or are likely to use AI when engaging with restaurants, while 48% said the same for grocery shopping. AI is increasingly used for recipe inspiration, meal planning, personalized promotions, and product discovery.

Brand strategy is another potential growth opportunity. An Acosta Group shopper study found that 82% of shoppers consider it important for fresh departments to carry well-known national brands. DuBois said retailers can combine the trust and innovation of national brands with increasingly sophisticated operator brands to offer shoppers greater choice and value.

Looking ahead, DuBois said companies that combine product quality, convenient meal solutions, omnichannel execution, AI-enabled personalization, and balanced brand assortments will be well positioned to capture a larger share of food spending.

“Fresh foods are a strategic growth engine across edible outlets,” DuBois wrote. “The operators and brands that embrace this evolution will not only gain market share but also build deeper, longer-lasting consumer relationships.”