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/282647
SPECIALTY FOOD DISTRIBUTORS THE DISTRIBUTOR VIEWPOINT: CHANNEL SALES GROWTH Source: Mintel Data may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: Mintel Up 20% or more — Up 10–19% 36 Up 1–9% 50 Unchanged — Down 1–9% 7 Down 10–19% 7 Down 20% or more — DOLLAR SALES CHANGE The vast majority of distributors, at 86 percent, indicate some growth, but that growth was modest, as no distributors reported a sales change of more than 20 percent. % Conventional Supermarkets (e.g., Kroger, Safeway) 36 21 Online Retail 36 7 Natural Supermarkets (e.g., Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market) 14 29 Specialty Food Stores 7 7 Foodservice (e.g., restaurants, cafes, cafeterias) 7 — Mass Merchandisers (e.g., Target, Walmart) — 36 Other — — Data may not total 100 due to rounding. Conventional Supermarkets 35 Specialty Food Stores 21 Foodservice (e.g., restaurants, cafes, cafeterias) 14 Natural Supermarkets (e.g., Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market) 12 Other 10 Mass Merchandisers (e.g., Target, Walmart) 6 Delis 1 Gift Stores 1 Club Stores (e.g., Costco, Sam's Club) 1 DISTRIBUTOR SALES BY CHANNEL As in 2012, supermarkets remain the channel accounting for the largest share of sales, at 35 percent. Specialty food stores account for fewer sales, as some distributors focus on volume retailers. Source: Mintel Data may not total 100 due to rounding. Sales by % Average Annual Sales: $6,753,350 Average Number of SKUs: 1,849 Organic Local* All Natural Non-GMO Sustainable Fair Trade Eco-Friendly *"Local" is defined as within 200 miles of operator Multiple answers accepted Source: Mintel THE DISTRIBUTOR VIEWPOINT: NATURAL/ETHICAL CLAIMS Interests Consumers Most Today Will Grow the Most in the Next Three Years Distributors believe that all-natural offerings will decline in popularity (by 29 points), and will be of minimal interest to consumers in the next three years. Distributors are highly optimistic that non-GMO claims will draw consumer interest in the coming years, while the majority report that organic claims are capturing attention in today's market. 64% 43% 50% 36% 21% 86% 21% 7% 36% 29% 14% 14% 7% 7% % Indicating Slowest Growing in 2013 % Indicating Fastest Growing in 2013 In contrast to manufacturers and importers, more distributors note that conventional supermarkets represented the fastest-growing channel throughout 2013, along with online retail. Also of note is the slow growth of mass merchandisers, which 36 percent of distributors report as the slowest- growing channel. SOI_2014.indd 101 3/18/14 8:33 AM