According to the Specialty Food Association’s 2016 State of the Specialty Food Industry report, specialty food sales hit $120.5 billion in the US in 2015. Dollar sales grew 21.2 percent since 2013 and unity sales increased 13.7 percent.
- Some key takeaways from the report include:
- Specialty food sales through foodservice are growing faster than retail sales: 27 percent versus 19.7 percent. More US Consumers are dining out and seeking high-quality, flavorful foods when doing so.
- Fifty-eight out of 61 specialty food categories enjoyed double-digit sales growth in 2015, and two categories grew by more than 200 percent. Fresh, protein, and convenience are three trends holding steady as evidenced in the specialty food categories showing the most sales growth in 2015.
- Though mainstream retailers account for the largest share of specialty food sales, they are growing at an almost equal rate as specialty food and natural food stores. According to supply chain data, sales potential may be biggest in natural stores.
Click here for more on the report.
