Overall sales of seafood in traditional supermarkets dropped 3.3 percent for the quarter ending June 28, according to a recently released survey.
In tracking seafood sales from 13,000 grocery stores nationwide, Perishables Group of Chicago also found that average retail prices on many seafood items increased during the 13 weeks ending June 28, compared to last year.
"Other research we have done shows that consumers really do believe that seafood is expensive. So when we see retail price increases suddenly go up, it is a red flag that consumer purchase behavior is likely to be affected," says Steve Lutz, executive VP of Perishables Group.
Although overall seafood prices rose an average of only 1.3 percent during the second quarter, some products had higher price hikes. For instance, average oyster prices rose 35.9 percent, to $3.74 a pound. However, sales of oysters also increased 14.5 percent during the same time.
Lutz says he was surprised to see sales of some popular seafood items drop, including salmon and shrimp. Shrimp sales declined 4.6 percent, accounting for $3,735 of every $1 million sold in supermarkets nationwide for the 13 weeks ending June 28, compared to the same period last year. However, shrimp prices only were up 1.1 percent over last year.
Salmon sales dropped 4.8 percent, to $1,815 of every $1 million sold in grocery stores from April through June, even though the average salmon retail price fell 1.9 percent, to $6.48 a pound.
Meanwhile, seafood items that experienced the highest average price increases include: clams, up 13.8 percent to $2.65 a pound; haddock, up 13.3 percent to $7.67; seafood sauces and seasonings, up 13.5 percent; tilapia, up 11 percent to $4.55; and crabmeat, up 10.9 percent to $9.98.
While the industry should be concerned about "negative growth" of several seafood items, including shrimp, crab and seafood dips and spreads, the sales decreases could have been impacted by seasonality, says Lutz.
