Fresh Food Surge Shakes Grocery Game | Birmingham News

Shoppers are ditching ultra-processed snacks for fresh food, with 61% prioritizing freshness at the grocery—spurring giants like PepsiCo to expand into store perimeters where produce reigns. Perimeter sales hit $271 billion this year, and 70% of consumers see these items as higher quality, even at a premium. Awareness of ultra-processed foods is surging—nearly half now recognize the term—as health concerns over sugar, salt, and fat drive demand for transparency. Not all processed food is bad; some has been vital for accessibility. But the real push? Consumers want better, fresher options—and companies are listening, setting the stage for even more fresh choices on shelves. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.al.com/news/2026/09/fresh-food-back-on-the-menu-as-consumer-turn-from-ultra-processed-items.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1cef0eb566124ffb Report issues to [email protected].