Chocolate, Olive Oil Top Favorite Specialty Foods
NEW YORK -- Consumers are choosing specialty foods over conventional foods at record levels as nearly 75% made such purchases last year, the Specialty Food Association reports. That's a big increase from 2009, when only 46% bought this type of product.
The Specialty Food Association, established in 1952, is a nonprofit trade association for food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs to foster commerce and interest in their industry. It claims a membership of more than 3,000 in the United States and abroad.
The association reports consumers say they spend about one quarter of their at-home food dollars on specialty options such as artisanal chocolates, cheeses and oils.
"The survey results confirm that consumers are responding to the wealth of innovative foods and beverages being produced today by food artisans and entrepreneurs across the United States," said Ron Tanner, association spokesman. "Specialty food has become part of the daily diet for a majority of Americans."
Some 43% of specialty food consumers use their mobile phones to buy food, and nearly half buy foods with ingredients grown locally. Genetically modified organisms are emerging as a hot topic for these consumers, who are four times more likely to seek out non-GMO foods than those who aren’t, the survey found.
Specialty food consumers tend to be young, affluent, and live in the West or Northeast. Men are almost as likely to make purchases as women, with 74% of men and 75% of women reporting buying specialty foods.
For the second year, the top-five categories consumers say they buy are chocolate, olive oil and other specialty oils, cheese, yogurt and kefir, and coffee. Salty snacks have jumped from ninth to sixth place among most purchased specialty foods.
More highlights from the report:
- Consumers age 18 to 24 are most likely to purchase, at 82%.
- Taste, quality and impulse purchases are the top three reasons consumers buy specialty foods.
- Greek food is gaining as a popular ethnic cuisine.
- More than half of respondents talk about food on Pinterest, Facebook and/or Twitter.
- 40% of specialty food consumers buy food online; chocolate and coffee are the top purchases.
- Nearly two-thirds of specialty food consumers buy them for everyday meals at home.
- Home entertaining is on the rise, with 41% saying they regularly host guests versus 35% in 2012.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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