What Specialty Food Consumers Buy—and Why
CATEGORIES OF SPECIALTY FOODS PURCHASED
% Consumers Purchasing
Chocolate
Olive Oil and Other Specialty Oils
Cheese
Yogurt and Kefir
Coffee (packaged)
Salty Snacks (e.g., chips, crackers, pretzels, popcorn)
Beverages—Non-alcoholic (e.g., specialty water, iced tea, soda)
Frozen Desserts and Ice Cream
Meat, Poultry and Seafood
Bread and Baked Goods (e.g., pastries, muffins)
Cookies and Snack Bars
Pasta
Nuts
Salad Dressings
Tea (packaged)
Crackers, Crispbreads and Breadsticks
Rice, Quinoa and Other Grains
Pickles, Peppers, Olives and Other Vegetables
Jam, Jellies, Preserves, Honey and Other Sweet Spreads
Seasonings, Spices and Spice Rubs
Condiments
Salsas
Pasta Sauces
Cakes, Pies, Pastries and Cupcakes
Frozen Lunch and Dinner Entrees
Nut and Seed Butters (e.g., peanut, almond, sesame)
Prepared, Ready-to-Eat Foods (e.g., dips, salads, meals)
Beverages—Alcoholic (e.g., microbrew beer, organic wine)
Cooking Sauces (e.g., marinades, Asian sauces)
Barbecue Sauces
Baking Mixes, Supplies and Flour
Vinegar
Sauces and Marinades (not barbecue or pasta)
Non-chocolate Candy
61
55
54
49
44
43
41
41
41
40
38
37
35
35
35
34
34
33
32
32
31
31
30
29
29
29
29
28
27
26
25
24
22
20
Base: 1,486 adults aged 18+ with internet access who purchase specialty foods
SOURCE: MINTEL
Specialty food consumers indicated purchasing specialty foods in an
average of 12 of the 34 categories surveyed. Chocolate leads, with
61 percent. More than half buy olive oil and other specialty oils as
well as cheese. The lowest incidence of purchase is in non-chocolate
candy, but it is still bought by one in five specialty food consumers.
C4 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE
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