Northwest Retail

Survey: Dairy Aisle is a Must-Stop Destination for Consumers

June 7, 2023
Consumers see the dairy aisle offering a wide variety of options to meet various budget, health and lifestyle needs.

According to a survey done by Atomik for the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and released in conjunction with National Dairy Month, 70% of consumers still view the dairy aisle as an important stop on every grocery store visit. In addition, 88% believe the dairy aisle is very likely to contain items that fit their lifestyle choices, from budget-friendly options to dairy-based favorites, non-dairy products, and even plant-based dairy alternatives.

Tricia Greyshock, EVP/COO at National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association said, “Nearly 3 in 5 U.S. consumers (56%) report that products from the dairy aisle take up half or more than half of the space in their refrigerator.”

Consumers hit the dairy aisle seeking cooking and baking essentials such as eggs, butter, and milk, and also looking for their favorite snacks. The dairy aisle is also home to plant-based alternatives, and the release noted that well over one-third of Millennials consistently buy plant-based milk from the dairy aisle.

But most grocery dairy aisles contain more than just dairy- and plant-based products. Orange juice, coffee creamer, iced coffee and tea, and rolls and croissants — all found in the dairy aisle of many stores — expand the options for consumers and make the dairy aisle much more essential.

When it comes to the snacks in the dairy aisle, almost two-thirds of parents (63%) find their children’s favorite snacks in the dairy aisle. To read more on the survey and see the results, click here.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.

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