Specialty Food Sales Up 7.4% to $175 Billion in 2021

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The specialty food industry hit $175 billion in 2021, an uptick of 7.4% from 2020, in accordance to the most current Condition of the Specialty Foods Sector Report from the Specialty Food Association.

A great deal of the expansion was due to inflation — for case in point, the specialty retail market place grew 4.3% in dollar income, but only .6% in device quantity gross sales. The report notes that “stay-at-dwelling mandates and food planning drove advancement in quite a few categories in 2020, leaving not only little area for ongoing progress, but several falloffs in 2021 as men and women ventured more out of the home.” Progress is expected to carry on this 12 months, but at a slower charge.

Specialty foodstuff made up 21.9% of all food and beverage product sales in retail final yr, generally centre-retail store, shelf steady grocery items. Nevertheless, whilst this category grew 3.2% in dollar sales, device profits lessened .7% compared to 2020. Refrigerated food items were being the quickest-expanding, with greenback sales up 7.7% and device revenue up 4.2%.

Best 10 types by retail greenback product sales	Top rated 10 speediest-developing classes
Meat, poultry, seafood (frozen, refrigerated) Cheese and plant-centered cheese Chips, pretzels, treats Bread and baked merchandise Coffee and scorching cocoa, non-RTD Entrees (refrigerated) Chocolate and other confectionery Water Desserts (frozen) Entrees, lunch, meal (frozen)	Tea and espresso RTD (refrigerated) Creams and creamers (refrigerated) Entrees (refrigerated) Breakfast foods (frozen) Appetizers and snacks (frozen) Seasonings Pasta (refrigerated) Fruits and greens (frozen) Sauces, pasta, and pizza (Shelf steady) Soda and carbonated drinks

The plant-based specialty retail marketplace seemed somewhat distinctive in 2021 than in 2020. Whilst plant-centered specialty products grew more rapidly than the specialty retail market place as a total, some plant-based mostly classes grew at a significantly slower level. The “largest advancement gap” was for refrigerated plant-based meat alternatives, which grew only 34% in specialty when compared to 66% in the whole market place. The report notes that prior to 3 many years ago, the plant-based mostly different meat class was 97% specialty products, but now non-specialty items make up substantially of the class development.

The specialty beverages sector is also modifying. In 2021, specialty beverages grew twice as speedy as foods, which was a reversal from the former year when food grew 21% and beverages only 16%. This jibes with IRI’s not long ago produced New Merchandise Pacesetters report, where by beverages arrived at history illustration.

Going forward, the report notes that expansion will depend on both of those offer chain bandwidth and how well manufacturers can adapt. In addition, specialty meals shoppers are wanting for merchandise with smaller sized footprints, perishables, and products from BIPOC- and women of all ages-owned brands.