FMCG Business October-November 2024

DELICIOUS DELI TREATS

Specialty Cheese is quite a seasonal category, with key trading periods peaking in the festive summer season and long weekends, says Foodstuffs Category Manager Delicatessen and Meal Solutions Rebecca Tuhakaraina and Assistant Category Manager Laura Anderson. Tuhakaraina says: “Entertaining cheeses, such as Brie, Camembert and Blue dominate sales in the Specialty Cheese Category. Culinary cheese such as Feta and bocconcini really pick up in the warmer season.

“Some new items to look out for are some exciting cheeses coming out in the yellow segment; Mersey Valley Salt and Vinegar Cheddar, Food Snob Jalapeno Havarti to name a couple.”

Anderson says ready-to-go salads are always a hit with customers as we approach Spring and Summer.

“This year we have launched a very fresh, jar range of salads from The Salad Jar. Coleslaw, with its broad customer appeal, continues to be a go-to and an easy side dish with a rotisserie chicken or champagne ham,” Anderson says.

Exciting news from Goodfood Group

“At Goodfood Group we’re passionate about bringing the world’s finest food products to New Zealanders’ tables, and we are experts in the Deli Cheese occasion. Goodfood Group are the number one supplier of Deli Cheese into the New Zealand Grocery sector (Circana 6 months to 01/09/2024), representing brands including Food Snob, Moondarra, Emborg, Coombe Castle, Meredith Dairy, Paramareggio, Applewood, Mexicana and La Panzanella,” says Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Danique Faber.

The Summer and Christmas season is a key period for sales in this category with 32% of the year’s sales being scanned through the till from December through to the end of February.

“We know a key driver of sales over this period is visibility, and Deli Cheeses offer stores a good opportunity to increase a shopper’s basket spend over this time,” says Olivia Van Diepen, Head of Insights and Innovation at Goodfood Group.

“Shoppers in this category are enticed by trying new flavours and products, so this year we are very excited to have a number of new

products launching into the market, including Food Snob Jalapeno Havarti - a lightly spicy twist on our number one Food Snob Danish Havarti.

“To add a flavour twist to those summer BBQs and salads we are launching two new flavours of Food Snob Culinary Craft Grilling Cheese: Chilli, and Basil, a 100% cow’s milk alternative to traditional Cypriot Halloumi, and Food Snob Danish White Cheese and Olives, which makes a great salad topper or quick addition to an entertaining platter.

“Two new brand additions to our range are Applewood - a popular British smoky Cheddar and Mexicana - a British Cheddar with 14 herbs and spices including Jalapeno, Bell and Chilli peppers. To top the NPD list off, you can now find Moondarra flavoured cream cheese in a convenient snack pack with sourdough crackers, perfect for picnics and on-the-go.

“With our wide breadth of products, Goodfood Group is sure to fulfil your desire for a variety of great tasting, quality goods, perfect to help lift sales this summer season.”

Head to www.goodfoodgroup.co.nz or email info@goodfoodgroup.co.nz for any queries.