The Southeast Produce Council will present research on how GLP-1 medication users shop the produce department during an educational session at its Southern Innovations conference next month in Nashville, Tennessee.
GLP-1 medications are a class of drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management that work in part by slowing digestion and reducing appetite.
Research findings are part of SEPC’s sixth annual What’s New? consumer research, which Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics will present in an interactive session Sept. 10.
This year’s study draws on 1,500 consumers, along with an additional sample of 150 GLP-1 medication users.
SEPC said the research is believed to be the first to examine GLP-1 users’ behavior in the produce department, including how medication use is influencing eating occasions, portion sizes, meal planning and food choices.
The study goes past whether GLP-1 use is changing grocery purchases to what those shoppers want from the food they eat and where that creates opportunity for retailers, foodservice operators and the wider supply chain.
“GLP-1 medications are creating an entirely new set of questions for our industry,” said David Sherrod, president and CEO of SEPC.
“This research gives us real answers about how consumer behavior is changing and, more importantly, a clear view of where fresh produce can meet shoppers where they now are.”
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The session is open to all Southern Innovations attendees, which runs Sept. 9-12 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
SEPC was founded in 1999, with its first formal meeting drawing 100 agriculture, retail and foodservice professionals.
They now have more than 6,500 members across the produce industry.
For more information on the conference and the research, attendees can visit the Southeast Produce Council website.
The research conducted by SEPC also examines how GLP-1 medication use is affecting fruit and vegetable purchases and consumption habits, providing valuable insights for the industry.
By exploring the changes in eating occasions, portion sizes, and meal planning, the study aims to identify opportunities for retailers and foodservice operators to adapt their offerings and better meet the needs of GLP-1 medication users.
The nonprofit organization, SEPC, has a long history of serving the produce industry, and its annual Southern Innovations conference has become a premier event for industry professionals to gather and discuss the latest developments and trends.
The presentation of the research findings at Southern Innovations 2026 will be an interactive session, allowing attendees to engage with the research and discuss its implications for the industry.
