Winter Holiday 2024 Shelf Report
What went out on the shelf last holiday season might surprise you
With Simbe, you could have seen it coming.
The weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah brought a surge of in-store traffic and last-minute shoppers. Demand for produce, floral, sports equipment, baking staples, and beer spiked — but many items struggled to stay on the shelf when shoppers needed them most.
Simbe analyzed real-world shelf data from Dec 19–25, 2024 in grocery and club retail. The results reveal which departments were hit hardest, and which categories drove the biggest swings.
Top Out-on-Shelf (OOS) by Department
🥬 Produce: The holiday crunch was real
OOS produce soared 424%, making it the most strained department of the season. Fresh fruits saw the biggest jump (+936%), followed by vegetables (+526%) and herbs (+312%).
These accelerations began as early as Dec 22 and skyrocketed on Dec 25. With real-time visibility, retailers could have spotted the surge and restocked high-velocity areas before the holiday peak.
Daily OOS by Produce Category
💐 Floral: The petals were gone before the parties began
OOS floral items jumped 240% in the lead-up to the holidays. Plants experienced the sharpest increase (+305%), while cut flowers more than doubled (+131%).
By the time shoppers reached for table centerpieces and host gifts, many displays were already depleted. With clearer daily signals, teams could have shifted inventory or expedited replenishment before the last-minute rush.
Daily OOS by Floral Category
🏃♂️ Sports & Outdoor: Resolutions kicked in early
OOS sports & outdoor products rose 187% as shoppers stocked up on gifts and prepared for New Year’s resolutions. Exercise & fitness items spiked nearly +800%, while outdoor recreation climbed +16%.
Earlier visibility into low stock items would have guided more proactive replenishment.
Daily OOS by Sport & Outdoor Category
🧁 Baking Essentials: Out of dough, out of luck
OOS baking items climbed 98% in the final days before the winter holidays. Doughs rose +237%, frosting & cake decorations +212%, and baking powders +179%, all peaking around Dec 24.
Real-time shelf visibility could have flagged runaway categories early, keeping key ingredients within reach for last-minute bakers.
Daily OOS by Baking Category
🍺 Beer: Holiday cheers met cooler fears
OOS beer rose 76% over the holiday week. Stout jumped +119%, non-alcoholic beer +110%, and lager +91%.
With gatherings and celebrations driving demand, many coolers struggled to stay stocked. Earlier insight into these trends would have helped teams reinforce inventory before the final pre-holiday surge.
Daily OOS by Beer Category
Looking ahead to the next holiday season
Holiday traffic and last-minute trips are not going away, but surprise gaps on the shelf can.
Simbe helps retailers turn real-time shelf data into daily decisions so every product, in every store, is ready when shoppers are. Nearly 1 in 3 shoppers say they’d shop less or stop shopping altogether when faced with poor availability, which means every missed item puts loyalty at risk.
Preventing those moments starts with visibility.