Food Market Outlook 2021: Grocery Shopping, Home Cooking, & Food Preferences in the Waning Pandemic Period


Attention: There is an updated edition available for this report.

Food Market Outlook 2021: Grocery Shopping, Home Cooking, & Food Preferences in the Waning Pandemic Period

Most packaged food categories are mature and rely primarily on population growth, leaving food marketers with the challenge of bringing something new to the table. Opportunities abound for companies that invest in new product launches, ingredient changes, and different marketing tactics to appeal to changing consumer preferences.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to sharply increased demand for food in the retail sector as consumption shifted from the foodservice industry to the home. Even as foodservice outlets reopened and vaccination rates rose, many consumers are continuing to prepare most of their meals at home for a variety of reasons from convenience to health and enjoyment to saving money. As a result, demand on the retail side has slowed – and in some cases declined -- but remained elevated from pre-pandemic levels.

With a focus growth opportunities and “what’s next” – along with bringing decades of food and beverage market perspective and analysis to the table – U.S. Food Market Outlook 2021: Grocery Shopping, Home Cooking, & Food Preferences in the Waning Pandemic Period is packed with actionable insights about consumer trends, behavior, and motivations. This report delivers predictions and recommendations designed to guide retailers, service providers, wholesalers, food processors, packaging firms, and investors in making business decisions about the food market.

Scope of the Report:

Combining Packaged Facts’ extensive monitoring of the food and beverage market with proprietary surveys, U.S. Food Market Outlook 2021 is the go-to source for a complete understanding of the U.S. food market. This broad-based report evaluates current trends and future directions for marketing and retailing, along with consumer patterns across the food market.

U.S. Food Market Outlook 2021 examines product availability; surveys retail channel trends; and analyzes consumer trends and motivations. This report focuses on the market for selected food products sold to consumers in the United States through retail channels. All retail channels of distribution are covered in market sizing and discussion, including supermarkets and grocery stores, mass merchandisers and supercenters, warehouse clubs, natural food stores, convenience stores, drugstores, dollar stores, and direct-sales channels including online. Market size data and projections are provided at the retail sales level.



  • Executive Summary
    • Food Retail Sales Forecast
    • COVID-19 Effects on Retail Food Sales
    • E-Commerce Sales Surge
    • Food Trends
      • Indoor Farming
      • Plant-Forward
      • Non Plant-Based Alternatives
      • Better-For-You
      • Healthier Indulgences
      • Restaurant Quality at Home
    • Scope
    • Methodology
  • COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Highlights
    • Impact on Food
      • Home cooking up
      • Home baking up
      • Planting of food gardens increases
    • Negative Personal Effects of the Pandemic
      • Table Coronavirus Concerns: "The coronavirus has negatively affected my…" (percent of consumers)
    • Even More Report Negative Effects on Friends/Family
      • Table Coronavirus Concerns: "The coronavirus has negatively affected…" (percent of consumers)
    • Effects on Work
      • Table Coronavirus Concerns: "Because of the coronavirus, I…" (percent of consumers)
    • Consumer Concerns About Safety Rising in Wake of Pandemic
      • Table Coronavirus Concerns about Food Safety: "Because of the coronavirus, I am…" (percent of consumers)
    • Eating Habits Changed
      • Table Coronavirus Eating Habits: "Because of the coronavirus, I am eating…" (percent of consumers)
  • Overview
    • Food Retail Sales Forecast
      • Table U.S. Retail Dollar Sales by Top Food Categories, 2015, 2020-2025P (million dollars and percent)
      • Table U.S. Retail Dollar Sales by Top Food Categories, 2019-2020 (million dollars and percent)
    • Distribution Trends
      • Mass Merchandisers Like Walmart Benefit Most From Pandemic
      • Convenience Stores Challenged by Coronavirus
      • E-Commerce Sales Surge
        • Table Purchased Groceries Over Internet in Last 30 days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. adults)
    • Grocery Delivery
      • Table Coronavirus Food Purchase Habits: "Because of the coronavirus, I am" (percent of consumers)
      • Table Coronavirus Changes to Shopping Behavior: "Because of the coronavirus, I have for the first time used…" (percent of consumers)
    • Direct-to-Consumer Sales
    • Home Meal Kits
    • Home Meal Delivery
  • Food Trends
    • Indoor Farming
    • Plant-Forward
      • Plant-Based Meat and Poultry Alternatives
      • Blends
      • Plant-Based, Dairy-Free Alternatives
    • Non-Plant-Based Alternatives
      • Cultivated Meat
      • Other Meat Alternatives
      • Alt Dairy
    • Sustainability
      • The Majority of Consumers Want to Know Where Food Comes From
      • Sustainability Is Important to Many Consumers
      • Most Consumers Think Knowing Whether Food Choices Are Environmentally Sustainable Is Hard
    • Better-For-You
      • Table I Buy Food Labeled As…, 2017-2020 (percent of U.S. adults)
      • Reduced or No Sugar
      • Immunity Boosting Foods
        • Table Buying or Eating Immunity Boosting or Healthy Food or Supplements by Age Bracket, 2021 (percent of consumers)
      • Vegetables Get a Boost
        • Table Consumption Rates for Vegetables, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households)
      • Diet-Focused
    • Elevated Experiences
    • Healthier Indulgences
    • Home Baking and Cooking
      • Table Baking Preferences and Changes in Activity Due to the Coronavirus, 2020 (percent of home bakers)
      • Table Home Cooking Behaviors, Agree Completely, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. adults)
      • Table Food Prepared From Scratch In Last 6 Months, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households, and percent of households that make food from scratch)
    • Restaurant Quality at Home
      • Table Coronavirus Food Purchase Habits: "Because of the coronavirus, I am using" (percent of consumers)
    • Partnerships Even More Important Because of Pandemic
    • Private Label Maintains Importance During Pandemic
      • Table Consumption Rates in last 6 months for Selected Store Brand Foods, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households)
  • Frozen Pizza
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market at $6.7 Billion in 2025
        • Table U.S. Frozen Pizza Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, millions pounds, and percent)
    • Consumer Insights
      • About Half of U.S. Households Eat Frozen Pizza
        • Table Consumption Rates for Frozen Pizza, Main Courses, and Complete Dinners, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households)
      • Frozen Pizzas Aren't Eaten That Often
        • Table Packages of Frozen Pizza Eaten in Last 30 Days, 20010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat frozen pizza)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Healthier Pies That Taste Great
      • Restaurant Quality to Recreate Dining Out
      • Comforting/Indulgent Pies
  • Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach Nearly $17 Billion in 2025
        • Table U.S. Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, units, and percent change)
      • Category and Segment Sales
        • Table U.S. Ice Cream and Frozen Novelties Retail Dollar Sales: By Category & Segment, 2016-2025 (million dollars)
    • Consumer Insights
      • Ice Cream Consumption Spikes, Novelties Decline in 2020
        • Table Consumption Rates for Ice Cream, Novelties, and Packaged Frozen Yogurt, 2016-2020 (percent of U.S. households)
      • Regular (Full-Fat) Ice Cream Preferred By Far
        • Table Types of Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaten Most Often, 2016-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat ice cream/gelato/sherbet)
      • Most Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaters Don't Consume Much
        • Table Pints of Ice Cream/Gelato/Sherbet Eaten in Last 7 Days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat ice cream/gelato/sherbet)
      • Penetration of Plant-Based Ice Cream Products Low
        • Table Types of Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives Eaten/Drunk by Consumers (percent of consumers)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Elevated Experiences
      • Healthier Indulgences
      • Alt Dairy
      • Diet Specific Ice Cream
      • Functional Benefits
  • Meal & Snack Bars
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach $7.8 Billion in 2025
        • Table U.S. Meal & Snack Bars Retail Sales, 2014-2024 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
      • Category Sales
        • Table U.S. Meal & Snack Bars Retail Sales: By Category, 2016-2019 (million dollars)
    • Consumer Insights
      • Nutrition/Energy Bars Gain on Breakfast/Cereal/Granola Bars
        • Table Consumption Rates for Breakfast/Cereal/Granola & Nutrition/Energy Bars, 2010-2020 (percent of households)
      • Snack Bar Eaters Eat A Lot or Not Much
        • Table Number of Breakfast/Cereal/Granola Bars Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat breakfast/cereal/granola bars)
        • Table Consumption Rates for Selected Brands of Breakfast/Cereal/Granola & Nutrition/Energy Bars, 2010-2020 (percent of households that eat bars)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Healthy Indulgences
      • Expand Plant-Based Offerings
      • Diet Related Bars
      • Enhanced Functionality
      • Refrigerated Bars
  • Salty Snacks
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach Nearly $35 Billion in 2025
        • Table U.S. Salty Snacks Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
      • Segment Sales
        • Table U.S. Salty Snack Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016-2025 (million dollars and percent change)
    • Consumer Insights
      • Table Consumption Rates for Selected Salty Snacks, 2010-2020 (percent of households)
      • Table Bags of Potato Chips Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat potato chips)
      • Table Bags of Corn/Tortilla/Other Chips & Cheese Snacks Eaten in Last 30 Days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat corn/tortilla/other chips & cheese snacks)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Elevated Experiences
      • Healthier Indulgences
      • Healthier Options
  • Fresh Packaged Salads
    • Sales Outlook
      • Fresh Packaged Salads to Reach $8.8 Billion by 2025
        • Table U.S. Fresh Packaged Salads Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
      • Segment Sales
    • Consumer Insights
      • About Half of Households Eat Packaged Salads
        • Table Consumption Rates for Packaged Fresh Salad and Fresh Produce, 2010-2020 (percent of households)
      • Packaged Salads Not Eaten That Often
        • Table Packages of Packaged Fresh Salad Eaten in Last 30 Days, 20010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat packaged fresh salad)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Indoor Farming
      • Safety
      • Convenience
      • Sustainability
      • Salads With Enhanced Nutrition
      • Restaurant Quality at Home
  • Yogurt
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $8.6 Billion in 2025
        • Table U.S. Yogurt Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, million pints, and percent change)
      • Category Sales
        • Table U.S. Yogurt Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016-2025 (million dollars)
    • Consumer Insights
      • Pandemic Boosts Yogurt Consumption in 2020, Reversing Declines
        • Table Consumption Rates for Yogurt 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households)
      • Consumers Prefer Regular (Full-Fat) Yogurt
        • Table Types of Yogurt Eaten Most Often, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat yogurt)
      • Yogurt with Fruit Most Popular, But Declining
        • Table Kinds of Yogurt & Smoothies Eaten/Drank Most Often, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat yogurt)
      • Consumption Increasing for Those Eating Less
        • Table Containers of Yogurt Eaten in Last 7 Days, 2010-2020 (percent of U.S. households that eat yogurt)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Healthier, More Nutritious Yogurts
      • Dairy-Free and Plant-Based Alternatives
      • Better Kids' Yogurts
      • Capturing More of the Snacking Market
  • Meat and Poultry
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach Over $116 Billion by 2025
        • Table U.S. Meat and Poultry Retail Sales, 2015-2025 (million dollars, million pounds, and percent change)
      • Category and Segment Sales
        • Table U.S. Meat and Poultry Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category/Segment, 2016-2025 (million dollars and percent change)
    • Consumer Insights
      • Meat and Poultry Consumption Spikes in 2020.
        • Table Consumption Rates for Meat & Poultry, 2010-2020 (percent of households)
      • Fresh Overwhelmingly Preferred Over Frozen
        • Table Consumption Rates for Fresh versus Frozen Meat & Poultry, 2010-2020 (percent of households that eats meat or poultry)
      • Bacon and Sausage Get Pandemic Boost in 2020
        • Table Consumption Rates for Selected Processed Meats and Poultry 2010-2020 (percent of households)
    • Key Opportunities
      • Cultivated Meat
      • Other Alternatives
      • Blends
      • More Value-Added Meat and Poultry Products
      • Better For: People and Animals
    • Competitive & Complementary Meat & Poultry Alternatives
      • Nearly One-Fourth of Consumers Eat Plant-Based Meat, Poultry, or Seafood
      • Plant-Based Beef Products Are the Most Commonly Consumed
        • Table Types of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Eaten by Consumers (percent of consumers)
      • Vegans And Vegetarians Are Most Likely to Eat Plant-Based Meat Products, While There is Much Overlap with Eating Both Plant-Based Meat and Dairy Products
        • Table Consumption of Plant-Based Meat by Consumers of Different Eating Philosophies (percent of consumers)
      • Flexitarians and Omnivores Make Up the Largest Groups of Consumers Who Eat Plant-Based Meat or Dairy Products
      • Consumer Psychographics & Motivations for Eating Meat Alternatives
        • Table Agreement on the Statement "I am eating more plant-based meat products because of the coronavirus pandemic", 2020 (percent of consumers)
        • Table Agreement on Statements about Changes to Cooking and Eating Habits during the Pandemic, 2020 (percent of plant-based meat consumers)
      • Key Opportunities in Plant-based Alternatives
  • Cereal
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $11 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Cereal Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015–2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
      • Category Sales
        • Table U. S. Cereal Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016–2025 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Chocolate Candy
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach $27 Billion by 2025
        • Table U. S. Chocolate Candy Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015–2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
      • Segment Sales
        • Table U. S. Chocolate Candy Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016–2025 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Cookies
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market to Reach Nearly $13 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Cookies Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015-2025 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Fresh Bread
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $18 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Fresh Bread Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015–2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
      • Segment Sales
        • Table U. S. Fresh Bread Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016–2025 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Frozen Dinners/Entrees
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $12.5 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Frozen Dinners/Entrees Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015-2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
      • Category Sales
        • Table U. S. Frozen Dinners/Entrees Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Segment, 2016–2019 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Natural and Specialty Cheese
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $19.6 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Natural and Specialty Cheese Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015–2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds, and percent change)
      • Category Sales
        • Table U. S. Natural and Specialty Cheese Market Retail Dollar Sales: By Category, 2016–2025 (in millions of dollars and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities
  • Soup
    • Sales Outlook
      • Market Declining to $8.3 Billion in 2025
        • Table U. S. Soup Market Retail Dollar Sales, 2015–2025 (in millions of dollars, millions of pounds/16oz. equivalents, and percent change)
    • Key Opportunities

Loading...

In this report,

We were unable to search inside this report.

Search for an exact word or phrase by placing the word or phrase in quotation marks ("market trend"). Search for different versions or tenses of a word by placing an asterisk at the end of the word (pharma*).

Please note that your term must be at least three characters long and numbers will be blocked by the # sign.

Download our eBook: How to Succeed Using Market Research

Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.

Download eBook
Cookie Settings