During the latest 52 weeks ended Jan. 27, 2013, dollar sales for energy drinks increased 13% and volume sales grew 23.9%, said Jamil Satchu, a partner with Symphony Consulting, part of the SymphonyIRI Group. Not surprisingly, he noted, Red Bull and Monster were the biggest drivers of growth in this category. Despite widely publicized health…
Shots Still Deliver Energetic Sales
Between 2008 and 2012, the energy shots category took off like a rocket, experiencing 168% growth over that period, said a recent report from Rockville, Md.-based Packaged Facts research company. But, as with most products, growth has begun to slow down as the category has been maturing. Proof of that maturation can be seen in…
New SKUs Challenge Packaged Carbonated Beverages
Today’s huge selection of drink choices is taking a toll on the sale of packaged carbonated beverages. In 2007, packaged carbonated drinks made up 25.4% of the U.S. beverage segment, but that figure dropped to 22.1% by 2012, according to Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC). “The category has been soft for a number of years, and…
Cold, Frozen Beverage Sales Heating Up
Frozen and cold dispensed beverages are in demand, with operators appealing to new audiences with product innovation. “The No. 1 reason that consumers go to a convenience store for foodservice is for the dispensed beverages. This is the primary draw,” said Tim Powell, director of c-store programs at Technomic. In 2012, cold dispensed beverages sales…
Demand for Coffee Soars
Sales of coffee dominate sales of hot beverages, making up 83.3% of the total hot beverage market in the U.S. Coffee consumption is expected to increase through 2015 at an average annual rate of 2.7%, while tea consumption is expected to increase through 2015 at an average annual rate of 3.1%, according to the National…
Snacking Opportunities Boost Bakery
Packaged bakery sales jumped nearly 6% in 2012, according to SymphonyIRI, as time-pressed customers gravitated toward lower-cost indulgences for breakfast and throughout the day. For the 52 weeks ended Dec. 31, 2012, packaged bakery sales in U.S. convenience stores reached $705 million. Overall unit sales increased 1.98% to 539.54 million. “People still talk skinny, but…
Fresh Focus on Sandwiches
As the grab-and-go trend continues, convenience stores looking to cater to hungry customers are increasingly turning to both made-to-order and direct store delivery sandwich programs. In 2013, Technomic expects to see better quality deli and grab-and-go sandwich items at c-stores, as customers continue to grow more food and ingredient conscious. “Meats, condiments, cheeses and…
Reviving The Roller Grill
Look for portability and value to drive the roller grill category in 2013. Hot dog sales were up 1.5% from 2008-2012 and are expected to be up 3% from 2012-2015, according to Technomic. Operators are improving hold times and attracting customers with new varieties. “Consumers choose the roller grill many times because it is quick…
Versatility, Convenience Driving Pizza Occasions
Pizza consumption continues to rise. More than four in 10 (41%) of consumers polled said they’re now eating pizza once a week, compared to 26% just two years ago. Pizza consumption has increased over the past two years as leading players revamp menus to include more innovative specialty pizzas, gourmet ingredients and items beyond pizza…
Strong Outlook for Poultry
The U.S. market for poultry products experienced steady, but moderate growth between 2007 and estimated 2012 and is expected to continue growing at this pace into 2017, driven by rising poultry consumption. Also factoring into sales growth is the consumers’ desire for nutritious foods that help them maintain healthy weight, according to new research from…