By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photo credit: Michael Conway, courtesy Willy Street Co-op
Toilet paper was being wiped off grocery store shelves like it was a cure for the coronavirus, but what else are self-quarantiners stocking up on?
Willy Street Co-op (which has three locations throughout the city) compiled a list of the hottest-selling items since the COVID-19 quarantine began a little over two months ago, and it’s pretty interesting. As we look back on this time years later, grocery store lists will be a good representation of how people were thinking and feeling, and we’re betting you’ve scooped up several of these items yourself.
“The top 10 products were somewhat predictable, but there are a few things that took us by surprise,” says Megan Minnick, purchasing director at the Co-op, in a statement. “Many of the things that are really selling now were declining in popularity before COVID-19, and many of the things that are declining now were really trending before COVID-19. It’s turned everything on its head.”
Without further ado, here are Willy Street’s top selling items for the last two months.
Top 10
- Staple products for cooking meals at home, like rice, pasta, savory sauces and olive oils
- Products for home baking like flour, yeast and butter
- Cleaning supplies
- Beer and wine
- Peanut butter
- Bread
- Frozen pizza
- Meat — all of it. The highest growth is in frozen and fresh beef and pork.
- Hair dye and self-care items, like bath salts, bath bombs and scented candles
- Plant starts and gardening supplies
Top 5 Unexpected Sellers
- Sports drinks and powders
- Swiss cheese
- Soy sauce
- Coffee filters
- Fresh garlic and hot peppers
Top 5 Nonstarters
- Fresh cut fruits and veggies
- Nutrition bars, granola bars and snack bars of all kinds
- Cosmetics, deodorant, hair styling gel and breath fresheners
- Deli foods
- Anything that’s a single serving, from beverages, to ice cream bars, to yogurt.