What you need to know

Canadian grocery shoppers are engaged with the centre of the grocery store, buying pantry staples as well as snacks and drinks. However, the area suffers from a bit of a bad reputation given the adage ‘to stay at the perimeter in order to shop healthier’. Canadian consumers are seen to subscribe to this, particularly Millennials, as pantry staples (eg basic cooking ingredients, starches, etc) are overshadowed by the availability of foods more appropriate for occasional indulgences (ie treats). Creatively helping consumers understand the link between shelf-stable foods with meal occasions and eating habits will help deepen their connection with centre-of-store products. Guidance and assistance in the form of tech innovations prove to be welcome, particularly amongst segments that may be less familiar with meal preparation.

Definition

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel refers to the centre of the grocery store as encompassing shelf-stable foods, snacks and frozen items.

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