US Potato Retail Sales are Higher in Price
Potato retail sales increased in dollar terms but decreased in volume terms between July 2021 and June 2022, compared to the same period the previous year. Retail dollar sales increased by 5.7% while consumer prices increased by 10.5%.
Total volume sales fell 4.4% from the same time last year, but they remained higher than before the pandemic. Over the last five years, dollar sales have steadily increased. Retail sales of potatoes have ranged between 3.35m tons and 3.5m tons.
All retail potato categories saw dollar sales rise while volume sales fell. However, except for deli-prepared sides, all categories have a higher volume than before the pandemic.
“Frozen potato sales account for 15% of potato sales and 18% of potato volume across the store. Frozen potatoes increased by 2.8% in dollars and decreased by 4.3% in volume. Straight-cut frozen fries make up the largest volume share of the frozen potato category, as seen in the chart below,” a recent PotatoesUSA report shows.
Fresh potato sales rose by 3% in dollars but tumbled by 5.6% in volume. The price of fresh potatoes per pound increased by 9.1%, but the average cost remains under USD1. Except for yellow potatoes, most fresh potato types increased in dollar sales but declined in volume sales. Yellow potato sales increased by 12% in dollars and 4.6% in volume. However, russet potatoes continue to have the highest volume share (59% of all fresh potato types). Fresh potato sales account for 23% of retail store sales and 28% of the volume sold.
“When looking at fresh package types, micro/steamer and tray potatoes are the only two categories that increased in dollar and volume sales. Micro/steamer potatoes increased by 4.5% in dollars and by 2.6% in volume, while tray potatoes increased by 8.4% in dollars and by 1% in volume sales. The only category to increase in dollar and volume sales for pack sizes was one to under two pounds, which grew by 9.2% in dollars and 2.4% in volume. All pack sizes eight pounds or greater saw the most significant volume sales decline but also had the largest price increases,” the report concludes.
