Shoppers Still Fired Up about Grilling

It’s summertime, and the grilling is easy and frequent. Before grocers put out all of the back-to-school items and get in the thick of planning fall and holiday promotions, they can take stock of – and still take advantage of – consumers’ increasing penchant for outdoor grilling.

Although major grilling occasions of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are behind us, there are still plenty of warm days for outdoor barbecuing, as well as the extended Labor Day weekend. Grocers who want to boost sales of grilling-related foods and accessories can take heart in learning some of Mintel’s newest survey results on grilling, including the statistic that 80 percent of U.S. grill owners agree that grilling is an enjoyable way to cook and the average grill owner uses their grill about three days a week during grilling season. In keeping with the “living is easy” theme of summer, nearly 60 percent of grill owners agree that that grilling is the easiest way to prepare foods.

Mintel's research also points to opportunities to promote the healthier angle of grilling. More than half (53 percent) of those polled say that grilling is a healthier cooking method. In addition, half of grill owners report that they enjoy grilling vegetables. (That said, the most popular barbecued foods are hamburgers, followed by steak, chicken and hot dogs.)

With Memorial Day and Fourth of July still fresh on the minds of retailers who are evaluating store performances from May through this month, Mintel’s research underscores the popularity and potential of those popular holidays. According to the survey, 29 percent of Americans have attended, respectively, Fourth of July and Memorial Day celebrations within the past two years, and 28 percent have hosted a summer holiday party to commemorate Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day.