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What categories make up the "specialty foods" market in grocery retail the United States currently?
Hello! Thanks for your question about the categories that make up the "specialty foods" market in the US grocery retail market. The most useful sources I found to answer your question are the PDF reports from the specialty food website. The short version is that specialty foods refer to products that cater to a particular audience. They are above average in quality and price and are made by specific brands. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
SPECIALTY FOODS IN THE UNITED STATES
Mintel, a market research firm, defines "specialty food" as anything that is above average in quality and price. The Value Chain Management Center (VCMC) divides the industry into four categories: ethnic foods, foods that are used in religious dietary laws, specialty diets, and gourmet and artisan foods. On the other hand, retail stores use different categories. They group them as products that are sold in lower quantities than mainstream products and are often more expensive and made by specific brands. In general, specialty foods refer to products that cater to a particular audience. These include organic, gluten-free, halal or artisanal food products.
THE STATE OF THE SPECIALTY FOOD INDUSTRY
According to the State of the Specialty Food Industry report, food sales for specialty food increased to $120.5 billion in the US during 2015. Mainstream stores sold 81.7% of the share of specialty foods. They were followed by specailty food stores and natural food stores. According to the research firm, Dun & Bradstreet , no large companies dominate this industry. Companies often specialize in a single product like meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, candy, and gourmet foods. Sales have been increasing as demand for ethnic food continues to rise.
In 2015, the top ten categories for specialty foods were: Cheese and cheese alternatives; frozen and refrigerated meat, poultry and seafood; chips, pretzels, and snacks; coffee, coffee substitutes and cocoa; bread and baked goods; candy and individual snacks; frozen lunch and dinner entrées; condiments, dressing, and marinades; Yogurt and Kefir; and refrigerated entrées and prepared meals.
EXAMPLES OF SPECIALTY FOODS BY PRODUCT SEGMENT
For the product segment of frozen appetizers and snacks, Glutenfreedas and Amy's Kitchen represent the natural standard. California Pizza Kitchen, Nancy’s Specialties, and El Charrito are specialties. For baby food, the natural standard includes Happy Baby and Plum Organics. Specialties are Familia, Hot Kid, and Apple and Eve. For Bread and Baking Goods, the natural standard includes Food For Life, French Meadow, and Rudi’s Organic. Specialties are Just Desserts, Tumaros, Masada Bakery, and La Brea. For chips, pretzels, and snacks, the natural standard includes Kettle Foods, Terra Chips, and Garden of Eatin. Specialties are Cape Cod, Xochitl, Food Should Taste Good, and Snyder’s of Hanover. For Coffee and Hot Cocoa, the natural standard is Vermont Coffee Company, Teecino, and Mount Hagen. The specialties are Starbucks, Ghirardelli, and Peet’s Coffee. For meat, poultry and seafood, the natural standard is Applegate Farms, Diestel, Henry and Lisa’s. The specialties are Columbus, Klements, and Boars Head. For water, the natural standard is Ayalas Herbal Water, Metromint, and Penta. Specialties include Iceland Spring, Evian, and Fiji.
If you want to see this extensive list, please scroll to the bottom of this website and download the PDF.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, specialty foods refer to products that cater to a particular audience. They are above average in quality and price and are made by specific brands. Thanks for using Wonder! Please let us know if we can help with anything else!