Convenience, herbs are tops in produce

DSN Retailing Today, August 16, 2004

Convenience is a factor that is driving produce sales, but the low-carbohydrate diet craze has had a significant impact as well. Produce sales gained about 1.5% to $5.02 billion for the 52 weeks ended May 15, according to ACNielsen, for food, drug and mass outlets except Wal-Mart.

Fresh-cut packaged salads have advanced to $1.06 billion in the 52 weeks, a gain of 9%. Packaged salad has gained at between 5% and 10% in sales for each of the past four years.

As a percentage, however, herbs topped packaged salad, which is sometimes true in the real world as well. Herb sales gained 11.6%, to $47.8 million, the fourth year of gains ranging between 11% and 12.4%. Besides spicing up low-carb and low-fat diets, herbs fit the trend toward more flavorful food and are popular with New Agers and many health-conscious consumers.

In contrast, potatoes took a pounding as low-carb gained, losing 14.1% in sales in the 52 weeks to $303.1 million.