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.
SPECIALTY FOOD IMPORTERS DOLLAR SALES CHANGE
Up 1–9% Up 10–19% Up 20% or more Unchanged Down 1–9% Down 10–19% Down 20 or more
Source: Mintel
IMPORTER SALES BY CHANNEL Share of Total Sales
2011 Mean %
Distributors—Retail Direct to Retail
Distributors—Foodservice Direct to Foodservice Direct to Consumer
Data may not sum to 100 due to rounding
55 31 12 2
<1 Source: Mintel
20 24 28 4
12 12 0
Mean Annual Sales: $2,515,625 Mean Number of SKUs: 178
2010 % 2011 % 6
19 25 38 6 6 6
Specialty food importers had a good year, with 50 percent reporting increased sales; however, their performance lagged that of manufactur- ers. The weak dollar and consumers' desire to support local producers had an adverse effect.
FASTEST GROWING RETAIL CHANNEL FOR SPECIALTY FOODS
% Specialty Food Stores
Natural Supermarkets (e.g.,Whole Foods Market)
Conventional Supermarkets (e.g., Kroger, Safeway)
Foodservice (e.g., restaurants, cafés, school/office cafeterias)
Mass Merchandisers (e.g., Target, Walmart)
Other
Importers rely on distributors much more than manufacturers do, with two-thirds of sales going through retail and foodservice distributors. Very little imported product is sold directly to the consumer.
Data may not sum to 100 due to rounding
31 25 19 –
13 13
Source: Mintel
Importers also see specialty food stores as the fastest-growing channel, followed by natural supermar- kets. They are not enthusiastic about foodservice as restaurants embrace the local food movement.
EMERGING CUISINES Region
Eastern European Indian Italian Mediterranean Latin, other than Mexican African Japanese Korean Thai Vietnamese Caribbean Mexican Russian Spanish Chinese Other
.VMUJQMF BOTXFST BDDFQUFE % of Importers
31 31 25 25 19 13 13 13 13 13 6 6 6 6 –
13 4PVSDF .JOUFM
The hot emerging cuisines will be Eastern European and Indian, according to specialty food importers. Goulash and curry, anyone?
12A [ 5)& 45"5& 0' 5)& 41&$*"-5: '00% */%6453: THE IMPORTER VIEWPOINT: WHAT ARE THE INFLUENTIAL PRODUCT CLAIMS?
Interests Consumers Most Today Will Grow the Most in the Next Three Years
75%
All Natural Organic Local
Eco-Friendly Sustainable Fair Trade
13% 13%
13% 13%
6% 19%
50% 50%
50% 63% 56%
All Natural and Local are the most influential product claims today, believe importers. They also believe Local will grow the most in the next three years.
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.VMUJQMF BOTXFST BDDFQUFE Source: Mintel