Higher prices on shrimp, as well as cod, crab, and other species, hindered seafood sales at U.S. retail stores in September.
Fresh seafood prices rose 3.7 percent in the month, led by a nearly 8 percent jump in shellfish prices, according to Circana data analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics.
By species, fresh shrimp prices rose 12.2 percent in the month to USD 8.92 (EUR 7.68) per pound on average. Salmon prices only increased 0.7 percent in September to USD 11.64 (EUR 10.03) per pound on average, but fresh crab prices rose 13.3 percent, hitting USD 9.52 (EUR 8.20). Fresh cod prices increased 12.5 percent to reach USD 10.79 (EUR 9.29).
Due partly to the price increases, fresh seafood sales rose just 0.5 percent by value, reaching USD 620 million (EUR 534 million), and dropped 2.3 percent by volume.
Salmon represented nearly half of all fresh seafood sales by value in the month, but the fish’s 5.1 percent sales growth by value and 4.4 percent growth by volume were unable to offset declines in shellfish, according to 210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink.
Trout, meanwhile, was a standout in retailers’ fresh seafood departments, with sales by value rising 24 percent and sales by volume increasing 24.7 percent.
Frozen seafood prices rose 5.2 percent, causing sales in the category to drop 2.1 percent by value to USD 586 million (EUR 505 million) and 4.5 percent by volume.
Similarly to fresh shrimp, frozen shrimp price inflation rose 8.6 percent to USD 8.51 (EUR 7.33) per pound on average.
Shelf-stable seafood prices increased 3.4 percent, yet sales in the category still increased 2.2 percent by value to USD 262 million (EUR 226 million) and 0.7 percent by volume.
Shelf-stable seafood sales are benefiting from the growing tinned fish trend in the U.S.
In the category, sardine sales by value increased 16 percent in September, and sales by volume rose 9.8 percent, while shelf-stable salmon sales rose 4.9 percent by value but fell 2.4 percent by volume. Tuna sales – still the most lucrative species in ambient seafood – stayed stagnant, declining 0.1 percent by value and rising 0.1 percent by volume in September.
Despite the relatively disappointing month for retailers concerning seafood sales, the overall U.S. grocery sector is realizing positive growth as the year winds down, particularly as restaurants have been forced to raise menu prices. Restaurant traffic declined 2 percent in September, according to Placer.ai, while shopping trips rose 3.1 percent for the month, per Circana.
As a result, Boise, Idaho, U.S.A.-based Albertsons raised its outlook for its 2025 fiscal year after a strong fiscal Q2 performance in which identical sales increased 2.2 percent and digital sales increased 23 percent.
The retailer now expects identical sales growth in the range of 2.2 percent to 2.75 percent for the year, up from original guidance of 2 percent to 2.75 percent.
"Strong performance against our strategic priorities fueled deeper engagement across our digital platforms, resulting in outsized growth in digital sales, pharmacy, and loyalty membership,” Albertsons CEO Susan Morris said. “Our productivity engine continued to offset inflationary pressures and fund investments in areas that matter most to our customers, including fresh categories and omnichannel convenience."
E-commerce continues to be a bright spot in the U.S. grocery industry.
U.S. online grocery sales reached a new record in September when they accrued USD 12.5 billion (EUR 10.8 billion), marking a 31 percent increase over September 2024, according to the Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Survey.
It was also the second consecutive month a record was set, according to a Brick Meets Click release.
“Driven by a record-setting number of monthly active users (MAU), sustained gains in order frequency, and solid increases in average order value (AOV), online spending for September captured its highest share since very early during the pandemic,” Brick Meets Click said.
