Seafood sales at U.S. food retailers ramped up 28.4 percent in 2020 to reach USD 16.6 billion (EUR 13.7 billion), according to a new report.
Sales of the combined category of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable seafood outpaced sales in the produce, meat, and deli department, according to the newly released edition of the Power of Seafood 2021 report from FMI – The Food Industry Association.
Health and wellness played a major role in seafood’s rising popularity. The survey found that one-third of U.S. consumers ate seafood two times per week in the past year, and 59 percent of people who upped their seafood intake said they had done so because were trying to eat healthier and boost their immune systems. Even people who previously ate lots of seafood were affected by the health trend, with 72 percent of frequent seafood consumers putting more effort into making healthy and nutritious choices since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report. And seafood’s popularity will continue to increase as that trend becomes more pronounced, FMI Vice President of Fresh Foods Rick Stein told SeafoodSource…