Retail market trends for seafood in the United States

Authors: SUN, LIANQUN - Mississippi State University; ENGLE, CAROLE - Virginia Tech; KUMAR, GANESH - Mississippi State University; VAN SENTEN, JONATHAN - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2022
Publication Date: 8/12/2022
Citation: Sun, L., Engle, C., Kumar, G., Van Senten, J. 2022. Retail market trends for seafood in the United States. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 54(3):603-624. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12919.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12919

Interpretive Summary: Seafood retails trends are best studied through retail scanner data. Weekly, store-based, Nielsen Scantrack data for the period of September 2016 through August 2021 were used to compare trends in US retail (supermarket) seafood sales across the 5-year study period, in continental regions, cities, and species categories sold. Results showed continuous increases in retail seafood sales over the study period at an average annual growth rate of 8%,much of which was fueled by the 21% increase in total sales (20% increase in quantity sold) the first year after the onset of the pandemic. The South Atlantic region was found to have the greatest total sales and sales per capita among regions. New York City had the greatest total seafood sales, followed by Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The top five most important species categories in terms of sales were, in declining order, shrimp, salmon, tuna, crab, and tilapia, although regional variability became apparent from the fourth-ranked species. Retail supermarket seafood sales increased dramatically following the onset of the pandemic,with especially notable percentage increases in lobster(77%) and crab sales (70%) and the lowest percentage increases in tuna (1%) and tilapia (13%).

Technical Abstract: Interest in retail seafood sales increased dramatically with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The diversity of species, types of products, product forms, and packaging of the seafood sold at retail, combined with diverse consumerpreferences across the United States, requires detailed data and analysis to provide guidance and understanding of emerging trends. Weekly, store-based, Nielsen Scantrack data for the period of September 2016 through August2021 were used to compare trends in US retail (supermarket) seafood sales across the 5-year study period, in continental regions, cities, and species categories sold. Results showed continuous increases in retail seafood sales over the study period at an average annual growth rate of 8.1%,much of which was fueled by the 21% increase in total sales(19.5% increase in quantity sold) the first year after the onset of the pandemic. The South Atlantic region was found to have the greatest total sales and sales per capita among regions. New York City had the greatest total seafood sales,followed by Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The top five most important species categories in terms of sales were, in declining order, shrimp, salmon, tuna, crab, and tilapia,although regional variability became apparent from the fourth-ranked species. The most important package sizes were 454- and 907-g packs. Frozen and refrigerated categories dominated sales (70% in 2021), with little growth in entrées and a decline in market share of shelf-stable sea-food products in 2021. Retail supermarket seafood sales increased dramatically following the onset of the pandemic,with especially notable percentage increases in lobster(77%) and crab sales (70%) and the lowest percentage increases in tuna (1%) and tilapia (13%). Given that US percapita seafood consumption did not show a corresponding increase over the study period, study results likely indicated a shift to greater relative consumption at home and not an overall increase in US seafood sales.