Take a look at how deli and prepared-foods sales vary from region to region, and a few outliers surface: The eastern United States sees lower comparative share of sales of prepared chicken, and a higher share of sales of service cheese. Average prices, meanwhile, are all over the board in terms of the cheapest and most expensive regions.
Share of Deli Sales by Region
| East | Central | South | West | Total U.S. | |
| Bulk meat | 25.0% | 18.7% | 16.0% | 11.0% | 17.4% |
| Prepared chicken | 10.4% | 16.4% | 18.5% | 17.6% | 16.1% |
| Specialty cheese | 13.4% | 11.5% | 10.8% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Salads | 7.7% | 11.6% | 9.6% | 8.2% | 9.2% |
| Entrées | 6.1% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| Sandwiches | 3.4% | 4.4% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 6.1% |
| Service cheese | 10.7% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 1.9% | 4.9% |
| Dips/spreads/toppings | 4.2% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Pizza | 3.0% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 3.0% |
| Sushi | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Pre-sliced meat | 1.8% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 2.6% |
| Beverages - coffee | 0.8% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 7.0% | 2.6% |
| Snacks | 2.0% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Platters | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.8% |
| Sides | 0.9% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Pre-sliced cheese | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Soups | 1.0% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 2.0% | 1.1% |
| Other | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 4.7% |
Source: Nielsen Perishables Group FreshFacts—grocery plus Walmart, Sam’s Club and Target
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