Packaged Facts

During the first half of 2010, holiday food gift sales increased from the previous year, indicating a promising year of growth in this sector. A rising interest in gourmet, natural/organic and specialty demographic food gifts is fueling demand.

2010 brings a perfect storm to the credit card industry, driven by recession-induced changes that are reshaping its core. At the same time, card rewards have become ubiquitous and remain the lifeblood of an market in transition do to the recession.

The recession is reshaping how consumers interact with the restaurant industry, and the breakfast daypart is no exception: value pricing is at the forefront of menu strategies, as growing guest checks are secondary to generating guest traffic.

The basic sense of optimism prevailing among gay and lesbian consumers suggests that they are more willing than other consumers to spend on discretionary products and services in the wake of the most severe economic downturn in 70 years.

Despite the lingering economic downturn, the U.S. fresh baked goods market has maintained steady, if modest, growth over the past five years. Consumer interest in health, locally grown products, and artisan cuisine are driving the industry in 2010.

Private-label products continue to win the attention of consumers away from their old brand favorites. Retailers have heavily invested in developing quality private-label foods and beverages, with equally high quality packaging and marketing plans.

The key to fresh convenience food market growth in the face of the 2008/2009 ‘Great Recession’ and still-iffy U.S. economy is the trend whereby consumers have traded down from restaurant meals in favor of fresh prepared foods.

Following the evolutionary pattern of the natural marketplace for human far, natural pet products continue to edge into mainstream channels while expanding from their pet food base into non-food pet supplies. The recession has not stopped growth.

Artisan foods are everywhere. Manufacturers and restaurant operators have recognized that “artisan” has become another term for “quality.” It evokes small producers making traditional foods by hand, putting great care into the outcome.

On the heels of more than two years of recession, the foodservice industry continues to feel the results of discretionary spending pullbacks, but the strength of Gen Y consumers is an industry boon.