U.S. Food Market Outlook 2025 provides insight into consumer trends as well as their behaviors and motivations. This report focuses on growth opportunities with analysis from decades of food and beverage perspective. Provided are both predictions and recommendations that are designed to guide retailers, wholesalers, service providers as well as food processors, packaging firms and investors in making decisions for their business about the food market. The report discusses inflation, tariffs, the rise of weight loss medications and more.
Key topic areas include:
- Increasing GLP-1 drug use is boosting demand for better-for-you food options, including lean proteins, nutrient-dense foods, and gut-healthy options.
- The MAHA – Make America Healthy Again – movement’s impacts will be seen particularly in calls to reduce artificial colors and certain preservative classes.
- Consumers seeking value in an era of still high food prices are turning to private label options, even outside basic categories.
- Moving beyond “protein in everything”, opportunities exist in the better-for-you segment by adding fiber and reducing sugar.
- Executive Summary
- Food Trends
- Scope
- Methodology
- Recent Historical Trends
- Rising Prices: From Supply Chain Crunches to Inflation
- Many Consumers Are Concerned about Inflation and Rising Food Prices
- Table Month-to-month changes in consumer price index (CPI) for all food items, 2022 – 2025 (percent change)
- Table Consumer Concerns about Rising Food Prices, 2021 – 2024 (percent of consumers)
- Tariffs to Further Inflate US Food and Beverage Prices
- Rising Prices Impact Consumer Behavior
- Cutting Back on Household Expenses
- Table Consumer Spending on “Extras”, 2023 – 2024 (percent of consumers)
- Private Labels Are More Desirable as Prices Rise
- Table Selected Private Label Department Dollar Sales Growth, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (percent change)
- Table Consumption Rates in last 6 months for Selected Store Brand Foods, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat selected product)
- The Vast Majority of Consumers Have Noticed the Rising Cost of Food, and Many Are Changing Their Purchasing Decisions
- Consumers Find Price More Important for Food Purchase Decisions in 2024
- Many Consumers Are Concerned about Inflation and Rising Food Prices
- Stress Levels and Impact on Food/Beverage Consumption
- Snacking Trends
- Frequency of Snacking
- Table Frequency of Snacking Habits on a Typical Weekday, 2024, 2025 (percent of consumers)
- Snacking Demographics
- Table Always or Usually Eating Breakfast or Snacking More Than Once a Day by Demographic, 2024 (percent of consumers)
- Reasons for Snacking
- Table Reasons for Snacking, 2024 & 2025 (percent of consumers)
- “Snackification” of Meals
- Frequency of Snacking
- Weight Loss
- Weight-loss Drugs
- Home Cooking Remains Relatively High
- Table Home Cooking Behaviors, Agree Completely, 2014 – 2024 (% of US adults)
- Table Food Prepared From Scratch In Last 6 Months, 2014 – 2024 (% of households that make food from scratch)
- Rising Prices: From Supply Chain Crunches to Inflation
- Overview
- Food Retail Sales Forecast
- Table US Retail Dollar Sales by Top Food Categories, 2019, 2024 – 2029P (million dollars and percent change)
- Table US Retail Dollar Sales by Top Food Categories, 2019 – 2024 (billion dollars and percent change)
- Table US Retail Dollar and Volume Sales by Top Food Categories, 2019 – 2024 (percent annual change)
- Table Annual Price Changes by Top Food Categories, 2020 – 2024 (percent change)
- Distribution Trends
- E-Commerce
- Table Purchased Groceries Over Internet in Last 30 days, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US adults)
- E-Commerce
- Food Retail Sales Forecast
- Cereal
- Sales Outlook
- Market to Remain Slightly Over $13 Billion in 2029
- Table US Cereal Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Category Sales
- Table US Cereal Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
- Market to Remain Slightly Over $13 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Snacking
- Comfort and nostalgia
- Healthier-for-you
- Mindful indulgence
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Chocolate Candy
- Sales Outlook
- Market Increases to Over $35 Billion in 2029
- Table US Chocolate Candy Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Segment Sales
- Table US Chocolate Candy Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
- Market Increases to Over $35 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Influencer Inspired
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Mindful Indulgence
- Responsible NPD
- Plant-Based Chocolate
- CBD Infused
- Sales Outlook
- Cookies
- Sales Outlook
- Market to Nearly $19 Billion in 2029
- Table US Cookies Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Market to Nearly $19 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Cultural Cuisine
- Mindful Indulgence
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Fresh Bread
- Sales Outlook
- Market Over $22 Billion in 2029
- Table US Fresh Bread Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Segment Sales
- Table US Fresh Bread Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
- Market Over $22 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Healthier-for-you
- Specially Crafted
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Responsible NPD
- Cultural Cuisine
- Sales Outlook
- Fresh Packaged Salads
- Sales Outlook
- Fresh Packaged Salad Sales Increasing to Over $8 Billion in 2029
- Table US Fresh Packaged Salads Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
- Segment Sales
- Fresh Packaged Salad Sales Increasing to Over $8 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Packaged Salad Consumption Declines
- Table Consumption Rates for Packaged Fresh Salad and Fresh Produce, 2014 – 2024 (percent of households)
- Most Packaged Salad Eaters Don’t Consume That Often
- Table Packages of Packaged Fresh Salad Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat packaged fresh salad)
- Packaged Salad Consumption Declines
- Key Opportunities
- CEA-Indoor Farming
- Restaurant/Chef Quality at Home
- Convenience
- Flavor-forward
- Responsible NPD
- Cultural Cuisine
- Sales Outlook
- Frozen Dinners/Entrees
- Sales Outlook
- Market Increasing to Nearly $16 Billion in 2029
- Table US Frozen Dinners/Entrees Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Category Sales
- Table US Frozen Dinners/Entrees Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Segment, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
- Market Increasing to Nearly $16 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Restaurant/Chef Quality at Home
- Plant-Based
- Cultural Cuisine
- Convenient Meal Prep
- Healthier-for-you
- Sensory Delight
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Sales Outlook
- Frozen Pizza
- Sales Outlook
- Market Approaches $9 Billion in 2029
- Table US Frozen Pizza Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent)
- Market Approaches $9 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Frozen Pizza Eaten by Only Half of US Households
- Table Consumption Rates for Frozen Pizza, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households)
- Frozen Pizzas Eaters Don’t Eat Them That Often
- Table Packages of Frozen Pizza Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat frozen pizza)
- Frozen Pizza Eaten by Only Half of US Households
- Key Opportunities
- Restaurant/Chef Quality at Home
- Ultra-Indulgent
- Sensory Delight
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Healthier-for-you
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties
- Sales Outlook
- Market Increasing to Over $19 Billion in 2029
- Table US Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million units, and percent change)
- Category and Segment Sales
- Table US Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties Retail Dollar Sales: By Category & Segment, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars and percent)
- Market Increasing to Over $19 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Regular (Full-Fat) Ice Cream Overwhelmingly Preferred
- Table Types of Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaten Most Often, 2017 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat ice cream/gelato/sherbet)
- Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaters Don’t Consume Much
- Table Pints of Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaten in Last 7 Days, 2016 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat ice cream/gelato/sherbet)
- Regular (Full-Fat) Ice Cream Overwhelmingly Preferred
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Mindful Indulgence
- Cultural Cuisine
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Meal & Snack Bars
- Sales Outlook
- Market Approaching $10 Billion in 2029
- Table US Meal & Snack Bars Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
- Category Sales
- Table US Meal & Snack Bars Retail Sales: By Category, Segment 2019 – 2029 (million dollars)
- Market Approaching $10 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Heaviest-Consuming Snack Bar Group Expands
- Table Number of Breakfast/Cereal/Granola Bars Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2018 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat breakfast/cereal/granola bars)
- Key Brand Differences
- Table Consumption Rates for Selected Brands of Breakfast/Cereal/Granola & Nutrition/Energy Bars, 2014 – 2024 (percent of households that eat bars)
- Heaviest-Consuming Snack Bar Group Expands
- Key Opportunities
- Indulgence
- Healthier-For-You
- Sensory Delight
- Cultural Cuisine
- Kid-Focused
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Meat and Poultry
- Sales Outlook
- Market Approaching $158 Billion in 2029
- Table US Meat and Poultry Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
- Category and Segment Sales
- Table US Meat and Poultry Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category/Segment, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars and percent change)
- Market Approaching $158 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Poultry Preferred Over Meat but Gap Shrinking
- Table Consumption Rates for Meat & Poultry, 2014 –-2024 (percent of households)
- Consumers Overwhelming Prefer Fresh Over Frozen
- Table Consumption Rates for Fresh versus Frozen Meat & Poultry, 2014 – 2024 (percent of households that eats meat or poultry)
- Sausages Outperforming Other Processed Meats
- Table Consumption Rates for Selected Processed Meats and Poultry, 2014 – 2024 (percent of households)
- Poultry Preferred Over Meat but Gap Shrinking
- Key Opportunities
- Cultural Cuisine
- Convenient Meal Prep
- Restaurant/Chef Quality at Home
- Sensory Delight
- Plant-based Alternatives
- Blends
- Cultivated Meat Facing Challenges
- Other Alternatives
- Responsible NPD
- Sales Outlook
- Natural and Specialty Cheese
- Sales Outlook
- Market Approaching $26 Billion in 2029
- Table US Natural and Specialty Cheese Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
- Category Sales
- Table US Natural and Specialty Cheese Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
- Market Approaching $26 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Mindful Indulgence
- Alternatives
- Restaurant/Cheese Shop Quality
- Snacking
- Sales Outlook
- Salty Snacks
- Sales Outlook
- Market to Exceed $47 Billion in 2029
- Table US. Salty Snacks Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
- Segment Sales
- Table US. Salty Snack Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars and percent change)
- Market to Exceed $47 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- Potato Chips Still Most Preferred But Trending Down
- Table Consumption Rates for Selected Salty Snacks, 2014 – 2024 (percent of households)
- Chip Eaters Don’t Consume Much
- Table Bags of Potato Chips Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat potato chips)
- Table Bags of Corn/Tortilla/Other Chips & Cheese Snacks Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2014 –2024 (percent of US households that eat corn/tortilla/other chips & cheese snacks)
- Potato Chips Still Most Preferred But Trending Down
- Key Opportunities
- Sensory Delight
- Cultural Cuisine
- Mindful Indulgence
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Responsible NPD
- Kid-focused
- Sales Outlook
- Soup
- Sales Outlook
- Market Increasing to Over $10 Billion in 2029
- Table US Soup Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2019 – 2029 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds/16oz. equivalents, and percent change)
- Market Increasing to Over $10 Billion in 2029
- Key Opportunities
- Healthier-for-You
- Cultural Cuisine
- Comfort & Nostalgia
- Sensory Delight
- Influencer Inspired
- Sales Outlook
- Yogurt
- Sales Outlook
- Market Approaching $15 Billion in 2029
- Table US Yogurt Retail Sales, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars, million pints, and percent change)
- Category Sales
- Table US Yogurt Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2019 – 2029 (million dollars)
- Market Approaching $15 Billion in 2029
- Consumer Insights
- After Pandemic Boost, Yogurt Consumption Relatively Steady
- Table Consumption Rates for Yogurt, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households)
- Regular (Full-Fat) Yogurt Still Preferred
- Table Types of Yogurt Eaten Most Often, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat yogurt)
- Plain and Flavored Yogurt Gain at Expense of Fruit Varieties
- Table Kinds of Yogurt Eaten Most Often, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat yogurt)
- Greatest Growth in 2024 from Those Eating the Most
- Table Containers of Yogurt Eaten in Last 7 Days, 2014 – 2024 (percent of US households that eat yogurt)
- After Pandemic Boost, Yogurt Consumption Relatively Steady
- Key Opportunities
- Healthier-For-You
- Dairy-Free and Plant-Based Alternatives
- Increase Kids’ Consumption
- Sensory Delight
- Influencer Inspired
- Snacking
- Sales Outlook
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