Organic, Natural, Specialty Foods & Sustainability

The specialty food industry found 2010 promising, as most retailers that sold specialty food cited growth that year. Total sales of specialty food reached just over $70 billion in 2010, with a nod of $55.0 billion to retail sales and $14.4 billion to foodservice.

While some studies claimed that the amount of U.S. consumers purchasing organics was growing, a study by TABS Group, Inc. found that number stabilized in the 38% to 39% range. “The annual incidence of these products has gone from 38.4% to 38.0% to 38.6% from 2008, 2009 and 2010,” noted TABS Group Inc. founder and president, Dr. Kurt Jetta.

Some 13,000 new sustainable food and drink products launched since 2005, according to tracking by Mintel Global New Products Database. About 45% of sustainable food and drink users cite a perceived belief in superior quality as the reason behind their purchases.