According to Circana retail data analysis, prices for packaged lunchmeat averaged $6.28 per pound in June 2023, an increase of 7.4% for the category compared with June 2022.

Making it quicker and simpler for consumers to purchase supermarket deli meat and poultry can generate attractive returns.

After years of increasing revenues, prepared-foods activity is crashing as consumers switch to homemade meals as they seek safety and savings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the deli steadily evolves, prepared proteins are becoming increasingly prominent as operators focus on becoming more formidable competitors of restaurants, he notes.

A person would be forgiven if they confused a grocery store deli for a fast-casual restaurant or vice versa.

Meat and poultry, which traditionally have been powerful supermarket deli magnets, are becoming less forceful.