Aug 16, 2018Retail potato sales value up for marketing year
Sales were up for the July 2017–June 2018 marketing year as compared to the previous 52 weeks. That’s according to numbers from research firm IRI. The increase in value was led by refrigerated up 7.9 percent, frozen up 2.9 percent, fresh potatoes up 2.1 percent and a 1.7 percent increase in the largest category, chips. The only negatives, according to the report, were canned potatoes down 1.4 percent and potato items in the deli down 1 percent.
The total volume of potatoes decreased slightly, down 0.8 percent. This decline was driven by deli, off 3.4 percent, and fresh down 2.3 percent. Strong volume increases were recorded for refrigerated up 7.1 percent and dehydrated up 2.4 percent. Drilling down on the fresh volume sales the largest category, russets, was down 4 percent, with reds off 3.5 percent and fingerlings down 2.2 percent. On the positive side, medley (mixed varieties) were up 27.4 percent, yellows up 9.1 percent and purples up 25.1 percent.
For further details, the full report is also available.
