Since COVID-19, Canned Foods Are Winning with Sales More Than 12 Weeks Ahead of 2019
Chicago, IL (June 16, 2020) – Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space, has launched a Household Penetration Acceleration Score that quantifies the extent to which cumulative household penetration has accelerated year-to-date relative to 2019. This helps brands understand the accelerated rate at which households are buying their products.
Household penetration is often used as a key performance indicator for brands because it helps quantify brand health and growth opportunities. This is a critical aspect of brands planning inventory for second half 2020 and understanding repeat buying opportunities that have been created during COVID-19 which may return with a potential second wave.
“Household penetration is a critical metric in the CPG industry and much of the data being used is incorrect,” said Eric Belcher, CEO, Numerator. “Brands are relying on data that is familiar, but no longer accurate, given the rise in non-traditional retailers. Better understanding household penetration gives brands a platform for growth.”
The Numerator Household Penetration Acceleration Score shows the degree to which 16 center-store categories are ahead of or behind where they were in 2019 on a year-to-date basis along with additional context to help decompose demand via buy rate, purchase frequency, spend per trip, etc. Cumulative household penetration tends to build predictably, which is not the case in 2020. Key observations among the 16 categories evaluated include:
- Canned soups and vegetables have the greatest increase in household penetration. With the highest acceleration in building their buyer base earlier in the year, this provides brands in this category more upside opportunity for repeat buying—provided they activate consumption—as consumers may rely on the shelf-stable nature of these products to fill long-term pantry needs.
- Not surprisingly, soaps and sanitizers are well ahead and will likely stay ahead given high consumption reporting.
- Many brands are running 2-3 weeks ahead, likely indicating an acceleration in usage aligned with the shelter-in-place orders.
Category |
HH Penetration |
Canned Soup |
+12 weeks |
Canned Vegetables |
+13 weeks |
Cleansers |
+2 weeks |
Cold, Cough & Flu |
+3 weeks |
Crackers |
+6 weeks |
Digestive Health |
On track |
Frozen Dinners & Meals |
+3 weeks |
Hands Soaps & Sanitizers |
+10 weeks |
Ice Cream & Novelties |
+3 weeks |
Juices |
+3 weeks |
Laundry Detergent |
+2 weeks |
Non-seasonal Candy |
On Track |
Packaged Cookies |
+3 Weeks |
Pain Relievers |
+4 weeks |
Shampoos & Conditioners |
+2 weeks |
Yogurt & Yogurt Drinks |
+2 weeks |
Source: Numerator OmniPanel analysis
Numerator is the only omnichannel consumer insights panel that can conduct Demand Decomposition Analyses that quantify consumer behavior for the same household across channels, retailers and trips to provide a complete look at their purchase behavior. This provides brands the ability to better understand consumer behavior in the wake of COVID-19, as well as to adjust their supply chain and marketing plans to enable better short and long-term brand health.
About Numerator
Numerator is a data and tech company serving the market research space. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Numerator has 1,600 employees worldwide. The company blends proprietary data with advanced technology to create unique insights for the market research industry that has been slow to change. The majority of Fortune 100 companies are Numerator clients.
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