US ‘specialty gourmet’ channel has 1,000 stores and revenues topping $18bn, says SPINS

01-Jul-2015 - Last updated on 01-Jul-2015 at 17:53 GMT

The US ‘specialty gourmet’ retail channel – led by retailers such as The Fresh Market and Mariano’s - has 1,000 stores and revenues topping $18bn, according to market researcher SPINS.

Meanwhile, natural and specialty products account for just over half of dollar sales in Specialty Gourmet stores, but are driving nearly 70% of the channel’s absolute dollar growth, said SPINS CEO Tony Olson.

“With a dual focus on both healthy and gourmet foods, these upscale, experiential stores attract variety-seeking shoppers that value unique taste profiles, in addition to the health, environmental and social benefits associated with natural foods.

“By promoting a vibrant mix of innovative, better-for-you products with a superior taste profile, specialty gourmet retailers have gained a loyal following among consumers and have delivered 10% growth in a channel that had been stagnant for many years.”

What is a specialty gourmet store?

SPINS characterizes specialty gourmet stores as:

Full-format supermarkets with more than $2 million in annual sales.
SPINS-defined specialty items comprise at least 25% of overall volume.
High-end, experiential stores featuring full-service and fresh products.
High quality products with a strong focus on specialty, imported, natural and organic items.