During the 52 weeks ending December 28, 2013, over half of all deli department dollar sales were driven by prepared foods sales. Deli sides contributed 2.1% to deli prepared food dollar sales and increased average weekly sales per store 7.1% compared to the previous year. During this period, 14.2% of households purchased deli sides from the deli department. These households purchased deli sides 2.3 trips per year on average, a decrease of 2.5% from the prior year. Spend increased 5.4% from the prior year to $4.12 per trip.

Nationally, deli sides sales peaked during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The week of Thanksgiving (the week ending November 30, 2013) was the top-selling week with an average of $512 per store. Deli sides for the week of Christmas (the week ending December 28, 2013) sold an average of $423 per store.

The West region topped sales performance among the U.S. regions with an average of $330 per store per week. The West region also had the highest dollar growth in deli sides, up 12.1%. The lowest contributor to deli sides sales nationally was the East region at 17%.

Deli sides consists of side vegetable, bean, and grain items. The top-selling deli sides sub-category was potatoes, which includes mashed, au gratin, scalloped, roasted, fried and baked. Potatoes sold an average of $167 per store per week, an increase of 8.8% from the previous year. Sweet potatoes had the largest decline in dollar sales, down 8.3% to $4 per store per week.

This sales review is provided by Nielsen Perishables Group. Based in Chicago, Nielsen Perishables Group specializes in retail measurement, analytics, marketing communications, category development, promotional best practices and shopper insights.

FreshFacts Point-of-Sale Data: 52 weeks ending 12/28/13  key U.S. grocery, mass/supercenter and club chains

FreshFacts® Shopper Insights Powered by Spire:  52 weeks ending 12/28/13 grocery channel only