A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly aware of the impact on health, wellness and the environment that the items in their grocery cart have.

As more options become available, plant-based cheeses are exploding in the dairy and specialty cheese cases. 

After more than a year of the pandemic, Meijer decided to take a look at some of the changes in shopper habits over the last year. 

Today, manufacturers looking to compete must consider the bigger picture as food purchases become more complicated, considered and inclusive.  

The report finds that produce department sales reached $69.6 billion in 2020—an 11.4% increase. Shoppers are purchasing more produce than pre-COVID-19, with shoppers buying more fresh fruit (+8.9%) and more vegetables (+14.2%).