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/567722
KEY OPPORTUNITIES TODAY'S SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMER C2 ❘ TODAY'S SPECIALTY FOOD CONSUMER Nearly half of all consumers (47 percent) say they purchased specialty foods in the past six months, accord- ing to annual research conducted by the Specialty Food Association and Mintel and presented in the report "Today's Specialty Food Consumer 2015." The results of a survey indicate high awareness among consumers (70 percent) of the term specialty food itself. The Association and Mintel continue to refine the definition of specialty food as the category matures and some segments that used to be considered specialty become more mainstream. This refinement has led to a narrowing of those who report they purchase specialty foods versus previous years, but gives the most accurate representation to date. Mintel reports that annual sales growth exceeding 10 percent is the best reflection of the state of the industry. 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 Associa - tion were responsible for the survey design, data analysis, and reporting. Fieldwork was conducted in July among a sample of 1,683 adults aged 18+ with internet access. Mintel selects survey respondents to be proportionally balanced to the U.S. adult population based on key demographics of gender, age, household income, and region. ABOUT THE RESEARCH Design by Funnel, Inc. iGeneration 18–20 Millennials 21–38 Generation X 39–50 Baby Boomers 51–69 Swing Generation 70+ GENERATION KEY Source: Mintel Age groups noted throughout the research are defined as follows: Look for our Key Opportunities boxes for insights on how to sell or market to today's specialty food consumers. @ The following pages offer highlights of key data from Today's Specialty Food Consumer research. Download a summary report with charts and data at specialtyfood.com/consumer2015. Plus, attend our webinar Today's Specialty Food Consumer Monday, Sept. 28, 2–3 p.m. ET