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://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/375622
TODAY'S SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMER 2014 C1 SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMER 2014 TODAY'S I n 2014, 145 million people—59 percent of U.S. consumers—purchased specialty foods, accord- ing to this year's Today's Specialty Food Consumer Report, produced by the Specialty Food Association and Mintel. While those figures represent a drop from 74 percent of consumers in last year's report, the difference is a matter of redefinition rather than falling purchases. This year, the Association and Mintel updated the definition of specialty foods and revised the food and beverage examples used in this research to identify specialty food con- sumers. Foods once considered niche have moved into the mainstream, which has been reflected in the definitions; the example of Greek yogurt, for instance, has been replaced by chutneys in this survey. Fine-tuning the examples used and narrowing the definition of specialty foods better reflects these foods' status as premium. Mintel notes that for this year, an annual sales growth of nearly 8 percent is the best reflection of the state of the industry. You'll notice more changes with this year's report. The following pages offer highlights of key data from Today's Specialty Food Consumer research, while a version with full charts and data can be downloaded at specialtyfood.com/consumer2014. ABOUT THE RESEARCH This research is based on an online questionnaire conducted by Mintel to explore consumption of and attitudes and behaviors toward specialty foods. Mintel and the Specialty Food Association were responsible for the survey design, data analysis, and reporting. Fieldwork was conducted in June 2014 among a sample of 1,649 adults aged 18+ with internet access. Mintel selects survey respondents to be pro- portionally balanced to the U.S. adult population based on key demographics of gender, age, household income, and region. For the survey, specialty foods were defined as foods of premium quality; that are often made by small or local manufacturers, or have ethnic or exotic flavors; foods that are distinctive. Download a report with full charts and data at specialtyfood.com/consumer2014.