Much like nearly every other grocery item, retail prices for seafood rose far above the typical rate of inflation last year, 210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink said. However, she predicted several favorable trends will help seafood sales grow in 2022, despite higher prices.
Topping the list is Americans’ desire to eat healthier. Thirty-five percent of Americans said they plan to buy more seafood than they did in 2021, according to a recent Numerator survey.
Plus, consumers have always viewed pouched and canned seafood as a cost-effective, good-to-have-on-hand item, Roerink said.
"In today’s marketplace, where inflation is the highest in 40 years, we see shifting to items that help stretch the dollar and items that are more cost effective and canned seafood certainly fits that bill,” she said.
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Steve Connolly Seafood Chief Operating Officer David Coombes agreed seafood’s “healthy halo” will help the industry weather inflationary woes.
“Seafood is considered very healthy and the COVID scare has pushed consumers to pursue healthier activities, including the food they eat,” O’Brien said. "Consumer grew more accustomed to seafood, and to cooking seafood, in the past two years, thanks to the pandemic’s impact on eating healthier and eating more at home.”
That opinion was echoed by Seafood Nutrition Partnership Linda Lai Cornish.
“Consumers are prioritizing health and sustainability in these times, and people are flocking to foods that are mood boosting, immune supporting, and climate friendly – and seafood fits the bill,” Cornish told SeafoodSource. “We believe consumers will continue to choose quality products and better-for-you options such as seafood, despite rising food costs.”
While inflation soared last year, the seafood sector nevertheless recorded strong demand and record-breaking sales at retail, Cornish noted.
“Remember that delicious seafood comes at all price-points, and eating more seafood can be affordable,” Cornish said.
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