Saving Seafood

Despite inflation complaints, consumers have money to spend on seafood, Wells Fargo economist says

January 24, 2025 — U.S. consumers have plenty of money to spend on seafood, despite anecdotal concerns over inflation and higher grocery bills, according to Wells Fargo agricultural economist Michael Swanson.

“People are spending USD 500 billion [EUR 480 billion] on [beef, pork, and chicken]. You don’t think they have another couple hundred billion dollars to spend on seafood if they want to? They absolutely do,” Swanson said at the 2025 Global Seafood Market Conference, which took place 20 to 23 January in Palm Desert, California, U.S.A.

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US retail seafood sales fell in December 2024 despite overall grocery sales increase

Jnauary 14, 2025 — U.S. retail seafood sales didn’t experience the bump in December 2024 that they typically expect for an end-of-year holiday season, according to new data.

Total fresh seafood sales dropped 5.4 percent by value in December 2024 compared to December 2023, dipping to USD 738 million (EUR 722 million), while Sales by volume dropped 8.2 percent, according to Circana data provided by 210 Analytics in Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.

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Health-focused consumers in the US are increasingly buying seafood, retail report finds

January 7, 2025 — Health-conscious grocery shoppers in the U.S., which account for an estimated USD 285 billion (EUR 274 billion) in annual spending at grocery stores, frequently look to the fresh seafood department when making food purchases, according to a new report from customer data science firm dunnhumby.

“The role of food and other health categories is blurring, with food now playing a bigger role in customers’ health journeys,” dunnhumby Director of Competitive Strategy and Insights Erich Kahner told SeafoodSource.

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US seafood sales improve in October on the back of slight price inflation

November 19, 2024 — Seafood sales rose at U.S. retail stores in October, thanks in part to a slight uptick in price inflation.

Shelf-stable seafood sales have performed consistently well in 2024 and did the same in October, realizing a sales spike by value of 1.7 percent year over year to USD 244 million (EUR 230 million). Sales by volume in the category rose 4.7 percent during the month, according to data from research firm Circana that was analyzed by 210 Analytics.

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Fresh seafood sales at US retail increased in September following months of declines

October 21, 2024 — After several months of lagging sales values and volumes, the U.S. retail seafood market finally picked up in September with shelf-stable seafood and frozen shrimp seeing the biggest gains.

According to new data from research firm Circana, analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics, the value of fresh seafood sales grew 0.2 percent to USD 611 million (EUR 562 million); sales by volume in the category rose 0.6 percent. Overall frozen seafood sales value declined 0.3 percent to USD 579 million (EUR 532 million), but volumes increased 2.1 percent.

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Seafood sees continued sales dip at US retail in July, albeit at lower rate

August 13, 2024 — Sales of fresh and frozen seafood across U.S. retailers declined in July despite continued price drops, but the dip was less severe than the months leading up to it.

The price per unit across all food and beverage categories rose 1.5 percent in July compared to July 2023, but prices across seafood categories declined in the month, according to data from market research firm Circana analyzed by 210 Analytics.

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May holidays not enough to boost US seafood retail sales

June 18, 2024 — Average seafood retail prices dropped again in May 2024, continuing a steady decline in recent months. But it was not enough to boost sales, which dropped despite holiday surges from both Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.

Frozen seafood prices dropped 3.6 percent year over year in May, the largest decrease by category across the seafood retail landscape, but sales of frozen seafood by value dipped 4.6 percent to USD 738 million (EUR 687 million), according to Circana data analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based food research firm 210 Analytics.

Fresh seafood prices declined 1.4 percent, and sales by value fell 3.1 percent to USD 820 million (EUR 764 million). However, the shelf-stable and ambient seafood category saw sales increase 2.2 percent to USD 310 million (EUR 289 million), with prices dropping down 2.2 percent.

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April seafood sales at US retail hurt by earlier Easter holiday

May 14, 2024 — Fresh and frozen seafood prices continued to drop at U.S. retail stores in April, but seafood sales as a whole declined across the country, partly due to an earlier Easter holiday that took place 31 March.

Frozen seafood prices declined 4.3 percent to USD 7.29 (EUR 6.75) per pound on average during the month compared to April 2023, according to data from research firm Circana, analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource