Sales of Specialty Foods Increasing

Sales of Specialty Foods Increasing

CHICAGOSales of specialty foods in the United States are steadilyincreasing, fueled by the introduction of more specialty foods into the marketand the growing channels in which consumers can find such products, according toa new state of the industry report for the National Association for theSpecialty Food Trade (NASFT), prepared by Mintel (www.mintel.com)and SPINS (www.spins.com).

According to Mintel, sales of specialty foods increased more than 20 percentbetween 2001 and 2003; the market is now valued at nearly $23 billion.Currently, the largest segment, comprising more than 11 percent of specialtyfood sales, is condiments, followed by teas and cheese/cheese alternatives thateach account for approximately five percent of market sales.

Segments with the highest increase in sales include specialty milk, half-and-half and cream, which increased by 48 percent between 2001 and 2003, andspecialty eggs, including free range and exotic eggs, which increased by 43percent.