Gourmet Food, Beverage Market Thriving

ROCKVILLE, Md.Market research publisher Packaged Facts released its Gourmet, Specialty and Premium Foods, Beverages and Consumer Trends in the U.S., 8th Edition" report that estimates that total U.S. retail sales of gourmet/premium foods and beverages through all retail channels rose to $67.1 billion in 2009, an increase of 3.7% over the previous years sales of $64.7 billion compared with the 2005-2009 compound annual growth rate of 8.7%.

According to the report, many gourmet/premium marketers and retailers are succeeding by finding ways to respond to the economic slowdown not by ignoring it or reversing strategy, but by incorporating its impact on consumer behavior as a factor among others.

The report also examines market size, analyzes growth potential and identifies issues and trends that will affect the marketplace through 2014. The data also reveals consumers attitudes and behaviors toward gourmet/premium foods and beverages, retail shopping patterns, and media usage and preferences, both traditional and social. New product trends and marketing and advertising positioning also are discussed in the report.