Providence, RI—United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) announced its Q2 Fiscal 2020 results--a summary of those results, which include net sales of$6.14 billion compared to $6.15 billionin last year's fiscal Q2, can be foundhere.  In an earnings call on Wednesday discussing the results,Steven L. Spinner, Chairman and CEO, addressed how the outbreak of novel coronavirus COVID-19 has impacted sales in recent weeks. UNFI's growth related to COVID-19 has been "significant," he said, comparing the surge to the sales boost seen during Thanksgiving week. Spinner added that the longer-term picture is uncertain, noting that "it is difficult to forecast the impact through the remainder of the year."

Offering insights that may help with the uncertainty, Nielsen recently shared thefindings from its investigation on six key consumer behavior threshold levels tied to concerns COVID-19. While the patterns revealed in the investigation are still evolving, Nielsen reported, they "help provide a set of leading indicators for packaged goods manufacturers and retailers faced with supply issues as they race to meet record levels of demand and changing purchase habits."
NIELSEN SIX CONSUMER BEHAVIOR THRESHOLDS OF COVID-19 CONCERN
Courtesy of The Nielsen Company (US), LLC


Nielsen added, "A Nielsen study of the U.S. market highlights how quickly consumers can digest and process new outbreak information and then make spending decisions tied to that news. These behaviors make it possible to understand early indicators of consumer actions, which can help companies manage their supply chain in response to news cycles." That information can be foundhere, and Nielsen added that it will provide updates on the impact COVID-19 is having on consumer purchasing as this health crisis continues to evolve.

In the coming days,WholeFoodsMagazine will offer insights from brands and retailers in the natural products industry regarding the current state of their sales. If you would like to share your insights, please emaileditor@wfcinc.com.
Related: Caring for the Community: Natural Products Retailers and Coronavirus Coronavirus Effect on Supply Chain: “Make Plans and Be Prepared”