Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US, 9th Edition

Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US, 9th Edition

With numerous gifting options available, consumers and businesses may choose food gifts instead of other products with the hopes that recipients will enjoy and use the food gifts and have an appreciation for food gifts because they are treats the recipient might not ordinarily buy. According to Packaged Facts’ November-December 2023 National Online Consumer Survey, 59% of consumers have purchased food gifts for others in the last 12 months, while 65% have bought food gifts for themselves.

Gourmet foods are often a special indulgence for recipients. This is also a main reason that some people buy food gifts to treat themselves. A food gift that helps the giver provide enjoyment, utility, and uniqueness makes both the giver and recipient satisfied.

However, it is clear that choosing food gifts over other types of gifts also involves some of the innate functions of food gifts. Many people think that food gifts are convenient to send to others since they can easily be purchased online and delivered directly to the recipient. They are also good for people who “don’t need anything” since consumers tend to think that food gifts do not contribute to clutter like other gifts. It is likely that a food gift will be consumed, while a non-food gift may simply take up space or never be used. Since food gifts are usually a quickly “disappearing gift” due to being consumed soon after receipt, they may be favored over other types of gifts that last longer such as clothing, stuffed animals, hand lotion, candles, and coffee mugs that contribute to clutter or may not be used.

With a focus on “what’s next” and current consumer trends, Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US is packed with insights about consumers trends, behavior, and motivations to help food producers, retailers, packaging companies, employers, and investors gauge consumer perspectives and find areas for growth in a competitive market.

Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US delivers actionable predictions and recommendations designed to guide producers, retailers, and investors in making business decisions by providing data and insights about food gifting.

Scope

Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US is the go-to source for a complete understanding of consumer and corporate food gifting trends. This report combines Packaged Facts’ extensive monitoring of the food and beverage market with proprietary surveys, and evaluates current trends and future directions for marketing and retailing, along with consumer patterns during the pandemic and inflation era and across the broader food and beverage market.

This Packaged Facts report analyses the $42 billion consumer and corporate food gifting market. Consumer and corporate food gifting sales are projected to grow at an average rate of 5.2% annually through 2028.

Consumer demographics, perceptions, motivations, and behavior are examined for food gift purchasers and recipients. Overall food and health habits and attitudes are also examined.

Corporate and consumer retail sales of food gifts are provided in billion dollars from 2018 to 2023, with sales projected from 2024 to 2028. Sales are segmented by consumer-purchased gifts and corporate-purchased gifts.

The food gifting market includes food gifts ranging from baskets of treats to eat while watching football to food gift baskets given to people on Christmas or birthdays. Food gifts can be purchased for any occasion or no occasion, for someone else or for oneself. While some food gifts, particularly assortments, may include beverages such as coffee or alcohol, those products as standalone gifts are excluded from this report (e.g., a single bottle of wine given as a gift and selected by the buyer). Food baskets refer to prepackaged assortments of foods and beverages, not consumer-assembled baskets of these items.

There are many prepackaged food gifts available in the marketplace. These include:

• Boxed chocolates/candies
• Cheese assortments
• Coffee/tea/hot chocolate gifts
• Cooking condiment sets
• Food baskets/assortments
• Fruit baskets/gifts
• Gift baskets or packages with wine or other alcoholic beverages
• International/imported food gifts
• Meat/deli/seafood food gifts
• Nut/salty snack food gifts
• Popcorn tins/gifts
• Sweet baked food gifts
• Sweet condiment sets
• U.S. regional or souvenir food gifts
• Other food gifts, such as meal kits or prepackaged meals

The reasons for and implications of shifts in consumer perception and behavior are analyzed in the context of future market opportunities.

Additionally, Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US has dozens of tables highlighting numerical survey data on consumer demographics and psychographics as well as numerous marketing photographs. This report goes in-depth on COVID-19 and inflation trends that have affected the food and beverage market.

Report Methodology

The information contained in Consumer and Corporate Food Gifting in the US was developed from primary and secondary research sources. Primary research includes interviews with food and beverage market experts; participation in and attendance at food industry events; and extensive internet canvassing.

Primary research also includes national online consumer polls of U.S. adult consumers (age 18+) conducted on an ongoing basis by Packaged Facts to analyze attitudes of consumers and their relevant food and beverage preferences.

Survey data from MRI-Simmons are used to analyze the demographics and psychographics of consumers.Supplementing Packaged Facts’ exclusive surveys are analysis of the 2022 and 2023 Food & Health Surveys conducted by the International Food Information Council, which analyze consumer food purchase decisions, diet and lifestyle choices, snacking activity, and perception of health benefits in foods.