The increase to 63 percent of consumers purchasing specialty food in 2010 – up from 46 percent in 2009 — means 51 million consumers have come back to specialty food after cutting their spending during 2008 and 2009, said Ron Tanner, VP, communications and education at the New York-based NASFT. That’s a return to 2006’s specialty food consumption numbers, he noted.

What are they buying?

Among specialty food consumers, natural or organic products were the most purchased in the past 12 months. The top five specialty food purchases reported were coffee, chocolate, olive oil/other specialty oils, cheese and cold beverages.

Who is buying?

Consumers age 18 to 34, especially those in the 25-to-34 age bracket with $100,000-plus household incomes, are 35 percent more likely to buy specialty food. These consumers tend to be in the Northeast or the Western United States, college educated and Hispanic.

The research was conducted in July 2010 by Mintel International and Toluna USA.

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Three Eyed Buddha Blend Poster, Air Pot Label or Shelf Talker

Fair Trade Organic Three Eyed Buddha™ is only available from Kaffe Magnum Opus.  Three cheers to Robert Kraeuter for coming up with the blend.

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