With pumpkin spice season nearing, Target is gearing up with a variety of new seasonal grocery items.
The retailer’s additions to its grocery aisles this fall will include more than 150 private label items and more than 500 new national brand items, Chief Commercial Officer Rick Gomez said on the retailer’s second-quarter earnings call Wednesday morning.
“We know consumers are eager for their apple and pumpkin spice favorites,” Gomez told investors. “So we’re excited to bring back these fall flavors while introducing some new and trending ones as well.”
New seasonal items this year will include pumpkin donut holes, jack-o’-lantern sandwich cookies, pecan pie ice cream, Good & Gather turkey stuffing, as well as sweet and savory potato chips, Gomez said.
Last year, Target leaned heavily into new apple and pumpkin flavors for seasonal private label grocery items. The retailer also offered Halloween treats under its Favorite Day brand.
In Q2, Target reported a 2% increase in comparable sales and a nearly 9% lift in digital sales. Target said that food and beverage drove traffic and sales during the quarter.
Gomez noted to investors that Target has rethought traditional assortment strategies recently, such as by transitioning its candy aisles to feature popular trends like better-for-you options, lower sugar treats and “wellness candies.”
“While this category was already growing, these changes raised the bar,” Gomez said.
Earlier this month, Target shared that its food and beverage sales have grown by more than $8 billion since 2019, to $24 billion per year.
In May, Target unveiled plans to cut prices on about 5,000 popular items across its assortment, including nondiscretionary grocery, household, and health and beauty items. That same month, Target also said it would add more than 125 new items to its Favorite Day and Good & Gather brands this summer as part of its plans to stand out as a snacking and food destination.
