Disruption can be defined as a break or interruption in the normal course. Currently, the disruption known as COVID-19 has obviously led to many breaks and interruptions to the normal course — but it could be only the precursor to bigger disruptions in retail and along the cold chain to come.
In the past year, all grocery sales spiked in volume as consumers avoided indoor dining at restaurants, whether by choice or by law. While the sometimes irrational demand for toilet paper received wide publicity, demand for frozen food also soared. Sales volume has tempered significantly since then, but sustained gains made by frozen foods are 2x all other grocery combined, according to research by 210 Analytics and IRI.