Survey: Grocers on track for a merry holiday season

Shoppers are expected to spend $1,496 per household this holiday season, with food and beverage ranking among the top items for purchase, according to Deloitte’s 34^th annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends.

According to the report, 43% of consumers plan to purchase food and beverage for themselves, outpacing all other retail categories including clothing (39%) and shoes (28%). Additionally, 25% of customers plan to shop for gifts at supermarkets or grocery stores during the holiday season, up from 14% five years ago. These numbers are good news for private branded consumer packaged goods that embrace innovation and differentiation.

Other key takeaways from the report include:

• The top 20% of spenders account for 60% of total dollars people plan to spend during the holiday season.
• The bulk of holiday spending ($596) will go to experiences and celebrations — including entertaining at home, socializing away from home, travel and restaurants.
• Consumers of all age groups are likely to rely more on Cyber Monday than Black Friday.
• People surveyed expect to spend 59% of their holiday budget online, compared with 36% in-store.
• Promotions will influence 81% of consumers this holiday season.

To read the Deloitte survey, click here.