Sales Trends

Pouring it on
(Progressive Grocer)

Barbeque sauces and marinades are helping Americans maximize their fondness for grilling. The article notes that the category is thriving due to a variety of factors, most notably consumers’ increasing love of grilled food (meat, seafood and vegetables) and their desire for new and exotic flavors. Additionally, research conducted by Weber-Stephen Products Co., (manufacturer of outdoor grills and grilling accessories), shows that more than half of all outdoor chefs now grill year-round, even in below-freezing temperatures. 

The article notes that the category is also diverse, with national brands continuing to do the volume, private labels offering alternatives and small local players to add spice, variety and regional flavors. The article notes that the condiment segment is both popular and mature.

According to Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), for the 52 weeks ended March 25, 2007, barbeque sauce generated $351 million in sales, up 0.11 percent year-to-year gain. Items that were down slightly year to year include:  steak sauce (1.79 percent, to $172 million), Worcestershire sauce (2.11 percent, to 58.5 million) and meat sauces, marinades and glazes (1.23 percent, to $236 million). Meanwhile, Hot/Cajun sauce rose 6.4% as a category, to over $159 million.   

According to the article, “The key is to awaken the category’s potential by linking with a popular cooking trend, or consumer preference for food with healthy attributes.” However, it was noted that the trend must be locally-relevant, according to retailers. The growing popularity of organic and natural products is also seen as a positive for the growth and diversification of the sauces and marinades section, at least for some retailers. 

Winning Streak – Progressive Grocer’s 60th Annual Consumer Expenditures Study.
(Progressive Grocer)

According to the recent survey, total supermarket sales hit $392.6 billion in 2006, compared with $383.2 billion in the year before. This was the largest increase since 2001.

Let’s take a look at how condiments, sauces, dressings and dips fared.

 

Total sales in supermarkets & mass supercenters ($ millions)

% dollars in supermarkets

% dollars in mass supercenters

% dollars in supermarkets & mass supercenters

Condiments, gravies, sauces

7,645.75

70.4

13.7

84.1

Salad dressings

3,683.48

70.7

13.9

84.6

Snacks, spreads, dips

1,262.92

69.5

11.8

81.3

 

 

2006 supermarket sales (millions)

2006 % change

2005 % change

2004 % change

2003 % change

SAUCES

 

 

 

 

 

Barbeque sauces

354.25

-0.7

0.3

-2.7

2.0

Catsup

443.25

-0.5

-1.6

-2.2

0.9

Chili sauce

40.75

4.8

3.2

-1.8

0.0

Cooking sauce

109.37

-3.2

-6.7

-3.6

8.0

Glazes - meat

3.99

5.8

1.9

1.4

-0.8

Hot dog sauce

16.06

-5.7

-2.3

2.5

3.6

Hot sauce

85.83

3.2

3.9

1.4

5.8

Meat sauce

183.18

-3.4

-1.8

-3.6

1.2

Mexican sauce

909.83

2.1

1.7

0.7

-1.7

Mustard

289.03

1.8

-1.7

-2.6

-0.6

Oriental sauces

166.19

3.4

2.6

-3.1

-1.8

Sauces - dipping

46.06

-6.2

-5.0

-2.1

20.4

Sauces – misc.

127.06

5.3

3.0

14.4

5.0

Seafood, cocktail sauce

109.89

-0.8

-0.3

0.4

0.5

Pepper sauce

64.97

7.4

1.2

-0.4

3.4

Worcestershire sauce

59.22

-4.0

3.4

0.0

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRESSINGS

 

 

 

 

 

Dressings – liquid

1,157.71

-3.8

-1.2

0.5

0.9

Dressing mixes – dry

78.50

-6.0

-4.2

-2.5

-6.5

Dressings – reduced or low calorie

233.52

1.4

-5.9

-5.0

-7.5

Mayonnaise

745.61

-0.2

0.6

0.5

3.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER

 

 

 

 

 

Refrig. dips

422.67

1.5

3.0

1.9

-2.3

Refrig. Horseradish

40.18

2.3

-3.2

0.5

1.7

Top 25 Private-Label Categories
(Supermarket News/Nielsen)

Category Dollar Sales Change Vs. Year ago
     
Milk $7.2 billion 12.8%
Bread/Baked Goods $3.5 billion 4.9%
Cheese $3.0 billion 7.0%
Fresh Eggs $2.1 billion 31.9%
Fresh Produce $1.9 billion 7.7%
Paper Products $1.9 billion 3.1%
Deli Dressings/Salads/Prepared Foods $1.4 billion 13.7%
Packaged Meat $1.3 billion 2.4%
Frozen Meat/Seafood $1.2 billion 5.9%
Frozen Vegetables $1.1 billion 2.6%
Canned Vegetables $1.0 billion 1.2%
Ice Cream $949.5 million 3.8%
Bottled Water $946.0 million 12.0%
Shelf-stable Juices/Drinks $827.1 million 3.7%
Cereal $801.0 million 3.1%
Cottage Cheese/Sour Cream $786.9 million 5.4%
Carbonated Beverages $778.8 million -3.7%
Storage Bags/Wrapping Materials $754.4 million 3.4%
Butter/Margarine $672.8 million 0.7%
Condiments/Gravy/Sauces $652.8 million 4.1%
Sugar/Sugar Substitutes $604.3 million -2.1%
Snacks $582.3 million 6.5%
Frozen Prepared Food $570.5 million 20.2%
Shortening $559.1 million 5.8%
Cookies $486.8 million 5.2%