More frequent grocery store trips aren’t necessarily translating to larger basket sizes, according to the latest research. The average household made 62 trips to the grocery store over the past year—a 4.3% increase from the year before. However, despite this uptick in visits, the number of items purchased per trip is down 2.3%.
This trend doesn’t apply across all categories. Meat, in particular, is having its moment. Consumers are opting for larger pack sizes, as shown by volume sales outpacing unit sales—a pattern also seen in the meat category. In May, meat sales rose 3.2% year over year, with beef and chicken leading the charge. Meat volume increased by 2%, and overall meat sales jumped 8.6% compared to last year. Shelf-stable seafood and frozen salmon also saw notable gains.
On the other hand, the bakery department struggled, with total sales down 2.8% year over year. Still, there were a few bright spots: croissants, donuts, and muffins saw modest growth between 3.1% and 3.4%. In frozen foods, meat and poultry saw increases, while frozen fruits and vegetables remained relatively flat.
It’s not just meat driving the momentum—meat-adjacent departments are also seeing gains. Deli sales were up, and fresh produce posted a slight volume increase of 0.3% year over year.
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