Foodservice at Grocery Trends Among Gen Z and Millennials

Different age groups are turning to foodservice at retail and deli departments for particular needs, especially Gen-Zers and Millennials.

By: Olivia Dale, Assistant, Research and Insights, FMI

A Millennial and a Gen-Z shopper walk into a grocery store… and they’re both in search of girrlll dinnerrrr

“Girl dinner” is a viral TikTok trend originating from Millennial creator Olivia Maher. It celebrates the assembly and consumption of an easy, satisfying meal from a variety of non-traditional pairings that, on their own, are often deemed “snack” foods. Think olives, cheese, crackers, fruit, and maybe a few deli-prepared bites.

We recently asked consumers if they’ve ever bought “girl dinner” from their grocery store’s deli-prepared foods section. While 22% said yes, the numbers jump dramatically among Gen-Z and Millennial shoppers — 40% and 39%, respectively. Notably, only about a third of these younger cohorts were not familiar with the trend.

Along with girl dinner, other online trends relevant to grocery store foodservice are taking shape, and younger shoppers are engaging with the content and using it to influence their food purchases.

How does this translate for retailers?

For me, dinner is often a backup plan for when I don’t sufficiently meal plan. It seems I’m not alone with meal-planning challenges. According to FMI’s recently released Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025 report, 56% of Millennial shoppers and 42% of Gen-Z shoppers want their grocery stores to be more helpful with meal planning, compared to 38% of shoppers overall.

In fact, when simply not in the mood to prepare dinner, younger shoppers are more likely than Boomers to rely on grocery deli-prepared foods. This highlights a key opportunity for retailers to meet younger shoppers where they are with ready-to-go options, even when the meal plan falls through.

How can grocery stores help with meal planning?

Younger shoppers are clear about what they want:

Bundled Meals at a Discount:

Most Millennials (91%) and Gen-Zers (87%) would love the option to buy a combination of prepared foods – main course, side dishes and dessert for a set price (at a discount). This is also the top recommendation across all age groups.

Recipe Cards Paired with Curated Displays:

Millennials (86%) and Gen-Zers (76%) prefer recipe cards with all the ingredients needed curated in one section/display. Meanwhile, shoppers overall (84%) favor a dedicated section of the store that provides all the prepared foods together for a complete meal.

This year’s Power of Foodservice at Retail report offers a deeper look into how shoppers of all demographics are engaging with deli-prepared foods — and what they want next.

Download Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025