PA C K A G I N G S O L U T I O N S grab and STAY Convenience is a priority for deli meat packaging as eating habits evolve BY LY N N P E T R A K | m e a t p o u l t r y @ s o s l a n d.c o m H 34 MEAT+ POULTRY | 08.20 | www.meatpoultry.com to brick-and-mortar stores but are concerned about higher prices and an uncertain overall future. People are also adjusting their eating habits. The research from Cadent Consulting and Fetch Rewards indicated that more than half (54%) of shoppers are purchasing more protein items, since they are eating more meals at home. Those meals include proteinbased sandwiches for the work-at-home lunch hour. The retail deli has been impacted by all these changes, including the service counter and grab-and-go areas. According to research conducted by San Antonio-based oksix - stock.adobe.com Dollar sales for pre-packaged lunch meat has been on the rise during the pandemic as more consumers are choosing to eat their meals at home. ow does the current deli meat market stack up? When it comes to prepackaged deli meat, it's a little harder to peg the future than it was a year ago. For one thing, the coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak has changed the way people shop. A recent study from C&R Research showed that grocery deliveries jumped 3.5 times during the height of stay-at-home orders, as US shoppers reported making fewer trips to the physical store and/or shopping at off hours. More recently, as the pandemic continues, another study from Cadent Consulting Group and Fetch Rewards found that consumers are starting to go backhttp://www.land.com http://www.meatpoultry.com