Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/116674
EDITOR'S LETTER Straight Talk from the Supply Chain S pecialty food sales hit nearly $86 billion in 2012, according to this year's "State of the Specialty Food Industry" report, a 22 percent jump over 2010 data. The report, compiled for the Specialty Food Association by Mintel International/SPINS, indicates a prosperous industry, as you can read starting on p. 33. Within the entire supply chain, the majority of companies reported a sales increase in 2012, often 10 percent or more. As promising as these figures are, every year the report information I find most compelling are direct comments from the supply chain itself, which offer a deeper story behind the numbers. Respondents never disappoint in their candor, about both their successes and the challenges they face. Current common causes of concern include the decline of small stores, federal regulations, cost and pricing, and maintaining a specialty niche. Here are some examples of supply chain comments: "What is the biggest threat to "What is your biggest gripe about your business?" the specialty food industry?" Manufacturers Importers "Any mandates on changing our "Dealing with the FDA." packaging." "Lack of distinction between true, "The decline of smaller retailers." artisanal specialty food and faux specialty food." Brokers "What was your biggest success in 2012?" Manufacturers "Adding our first Whole Foods store." "Becoming a federally inspected processing plant." "Big-box stores and Walmart." "Government regulations as to customs and FDA requirements for imports." Distributors "Ingredient costs." "The industry can be fickle and follow food trends that don't last." Distributors "Bringing aboard traditional Hispanic supermarkets." "Overcoming retailer bankruptcies." Retailers "Knock-off, lesser-quality products being sold for a cheaper price." "Good food becoming ubiquitous, availability from many channels." Retailers "Going overboard on a trend, whether it's organic, etc." "Producers who define success as being slotted in the national chains." Brokers "Our online accounts business increased." "The resurgence of smaller/local stores and neighborhood grocers. To read more of these comments, visit our new channel-specific InDepth Reports on specialtyfood.com. In the News & Trends section of the website, you'll find pages dedicated to suppliers, importers, distributors, brokers, foodservice professionals and specialty and volume retailers. In addition to comments collected from the "State of the Industry" report, you can read news, trends and operational information targeted to your individual channel of trade. |SFM| Visit our new channel-specifc InDepth Reports on specialtyfood.com. By Denise Purcell Editor, Specialty Food Magazine dpurcell@specialtyfood.com facebook.com/craftcarejoy APRIL 2013 1