Nov 15, 2023

Potato sales from July to September see increase over 2022

Potato sales for the quarter from July to September 2023 increased 9.5% from the same period a year ago, with all categories seeing jumps in dollar sales.

A new analysis from consumer advisory company Circana found that while total volume sales decreased by 1.7%, fresh volume sales remained stable compared to 2022 (-0.4%). Increases in yellow (3.3%), red (2.8%) and fingerling potatoes (3.9%) led the way, while the Southeast led regional fresh volume growth at 2.5%.

Fresh price per pound was $1.12, up 6.3% from last year, the analysis found, with overall volume sales remaining above pre-pandemic levels.

Canned potatoes saw the biggest increase in dollar sales for the quarter at 45.1%. Frozen potatoes saw a 31.8% increase, while instant potato dollar sales rose 17.1%. Deli-prepared sides (3.1%) and canned potatoes (63.3%) also both increased in volume sales.

Despite the increase in volume and dollar sales of canned potatoes, the category made up 1% of total volume of sales. Of the categories seeing declines in volume, refrigerated (-7.2%), instant (-6.0%) and frozen (-5.6%) potatoes saw the most significant drops.

For fresh potatoes, all pack sizes except those greater than 10 pounds (-29.9%) increased significantly in dollar sales. Ten-pound packs increased in dollar sales (32.9%) but fell in volume (-2.9%). The largest dollar sales increases were in 5-pound (31.5%) and 10-pound (32.9%) bags. However, volume sales fell for all sizes larger than 8 pounds. Volume sales increased for less-than-2-pound (1.3%) and 5-pound (3.7%) packages.

Circana works directly with retailers to compile the report numbers.