How consumer behavior has changed since the Boar’s Head recall, explained by a grocer

The owner and operator of family-owned grocery chain Cingari Family Markets spoke to FOX Business about the unique trend he’s seen of consumers turning away from meat and toward processed foods following the Pig’s Head recall.

About 7 million kilos of meat were cut by Boar’s Head, with the first announcement issued in July 2024.

Products can be returned for many reasons. A listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meat was the reason for this recall.

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In September, Boar’s Head announced the closure of its manufacturing facility in Jarratt, Virginia, where a deadly outbreak broke out.

Tom Cingari Jr., a fourth-generation owner and co-owner of his family’s grocery store, told FOX Business that after the recall, he saw an unusual change in consumer behavior that extended beyond Boar’s Head products.

“There has definitely been a noticeable change from there [the] deli cut meat category…very much for certain Boar’s Head products, but it’s also raised doubts about other deli cuts, just people feel uncomfortable all the time,” Cingari, who specializes in perishables. products, told FOX Business on the phone.

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“Most of the drop in sales was on Boar’s Head products, but we feel like it’s also going down…as I think people are probably staying away from those things until they get dusty…but statistically since this incident, we’re down about 7% in sales, in our departments of goods in our company, and before that, we were actually in a good position,” explained Cingari.

As more shoppers turn their backs on the deli counter, Cingari said a different product category has seen a huge increase in their stores.

When products are recalled, consumers may waver in their trust in the brand and look for other options. (iStock / Stock)

“I think it’s interesting that the recall is creating a shortage in general sales, in our deli departments, but it’s a very interesting trend on the side of this [that] we have seen a huge increase in our ready meals offering,” said Cingari.

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“It’s not that it’s a one-man transaction… [but] we picked up more percentages of our cooked meals, like our chef prepared entrees and sides and salads and all those kinds of things… I feel like they’re kind of a different kind of food than giving up. So we’ve seen a lot of growth in that entry and new sides,” added Cingari.

Deli items may be down 7% at Cingari stores, but prepared foods, as Boar’s Head recalls, are up 20%.

“It’s not that the percentage is the same in terms of dollars, but it has increased a lot,” said Cingari.

Tom Cingari Jr. told FOX Business that customers at her family’s grocery store have been receiving prepackaged meals, such as freshly tossed salads, instead of ground meats following the Boar’s Head recall. (iStock / Stock)

Not only can a product recall cost companies millions, in some cases, billions of dollars, but it can also tarnish their reputation.

Consumers may lose trust in the company, and it may be a long road for the brand to regain that.

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“I think it will take a little time for the company to get the customers’ assurance that this will not happen again,” said Cingari. “So I completely understand the skepticism from the customer’s point of view, and hopefully, in the long run Boar’s Head will make sure it’s seen as that kind of high quality again, because when something like this happens, it just casts a wide net across the brand.”

“I hope they will trust each other again,” he said, “but I believe it will take time.”