According to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, more than two-thirds of consumers report purchasing specialty foods within the past six months, an 11 percent increase over 2011.
Chocolate, olive oil, cheese and yogurt top the list for specialty items shoppers are purchasing. Specialty foods are defined as foods of premium quality, which are often made by small or local manufacturers or have ethnic or exotic flavors.
During the holiday season, shoppers will be experimenting with new recipes and looking for new items to make their dishes extra special.
“In-store sampling is a great way to introduce shoppers to specialty products during the holidays and build value for retailers,” said Giovanni DeMeo, Vice President of Global Marketing for Interactions. “With four in ten purchases being driven by impulse, there is a great opportunity to increase sales through sampling.”
According to the NASFT, specialty foods represent 13.7 percent of all retail food sales.