Food is getting an increasing share of consumer dollars at the expense of non-food items, according toa new Nielsen study.In the 52 weeks ending Oct. 2, retail food sales by unit were up over the same period last year in several categories, ranging from 0.1% for fresh meat to 3.5% for fresh produce, while non-food categories were down. Nielsen attributed this to economic insecurity that is leading to increased cooking at home. Strategies suggested for capitalizing on this trend include: cross-branding with restaurants and/or celebrity chefs; increased access to recipes and “creative meal solutions,” possibly aided by strategic merchandising of items that go together; increased use of social media sites, and “advertising copy that embraces the joy of cooking and celebrations with family and friends.”