US sales of natural products jumped almost 10% last year, according to a survey conducted by local magazine Natural Foods Merchandiser.
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Sales rose 9.7% throughout 2006, growing to a total value of US$56.7bn,
“US consumers continue to demonstrate a growing appetite for natural and organic products, as manufacturers and retailers expand into new and nontraditional areas and deepen their offerings, said Marty Traynor Spencer of the Natural Foods Merchandiser. “In fact, total sales for the natural and organic industry increased 56% between 2002 and 2006.”
The latest figures released by the Natural Foods Merchandiser revealed that food sales in natural retailers, such as Whole Foods and Wild Oats, increased by 11.7%. Produce remained the largest category, with sales of US$3.3bn, up 11.5% over 2005’s sales. Fresh meat and seafood also saw strong sales gains.
The retail channel accounted for 81.2%, or $46.1bn, of total sales. Natural products retailers accounted for close to 50% of total market revenues with sales of $28.3bn.
