LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Food retailers keep busy during holiday season
Lexington, KY --
The holidays are a busy time for bakeries, delis and other food retailers that have to keep up with demands for family dinners. With Christmas approaching, business isn't slowing down.
However, with COVID-19 restrictions impacting parties and other events, how has that affected food shopping?
At Critchfield Meats Family Market in Lexington, workers are keeping holiday dinner table staples, like turkey, pork, and ham, well-stocked.
President Mark Critchfield says after moving into their new, larger location on Southland Drive, holiday sales are up from last year. One specific area that's down though because of the pandemic is hot meal sales for office parties. While large meat sales are also down, they're countered by an increase in sales of smaller sizes.
“Our small turkey sales increased. Our large turkey sales decreased. That was just because smaller groups were gathering,” said Critchfield. “It flip-flopped.”
While Critchfield says he expects other items, like baked goods, to clear the shelves over the next few days, workers will make sure the meat section is kept full of options.
Speaking of baked goods, employees at Midway Bakery & Café in Midway have been busy the last few weeks taking orders, and packing up and sending out cookie boxes.
“We've shipped thousands of boxes of cookies all over the country and they just took their last container out the door. So, it's been very busy here at the bakery,” said owner Ouita Michel.
Michel says shipping sales went up almost 100 percent this year. Now, she says the focus will be on local customers coming in or picking up curbside.
“Cinnamon buns have exploded because I think a lot of people want that cinnamon roll for their breakfast during the holiday season,” said Michel. “So, we feel like we've done really well and we're just now coming into jam cake season.”
