Nov 25, 2024

Profitable July-September retail potato sales recorded

Potato retail sales recently experienced a profitable period in July to September volume sales, according to a report.

Organic fresh potatoes also experienced increased sales and movement.

U.S. retail sales volume of potatoes climbed 5.4% from July to September 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to as analysis from Potatoes USA and consumer research company Circana.

Every category where volume increased, including fresh potatoes, chips, frozen potatoes, refrigerated potatoes and deli-prepared sides, saw jumps of more than 5%, according to the analysis. Total dollar sales were stable at $4.5 billion for the period (-0.2%), and consumer price declined 5.3%.

Frozen potatoes saw the largest volume increase at 6.6%, followed by chips (6.5%). Volume only decreased for instant potatoes (-1.4%) and canned potatoes (-5.0%), which represent 6% and 0.6% of volume sales respectively.

Potato chips saw increased dollar sales (3.2%), as did refrigerated potatoes (5%) and deli-prepared sides (7.4%). Dollar sales for frozen potatoes were stable (-0.01%), while they fell for fresh potatoes (-8.6%), instant potatoes (-1.5%), and canned potatoes (-2.5%).

Volume sales for fresh potatoes rose 5.0%. Russet, yellow, petite, and medley potatoes all saw volume increases of more than 5%. Russets, which make up 65% of fresh volume sales, had a volume increase of 10.6%. Fresh dollar sales increased for yellow (5.6%), petite (1.7%), medley (5.1%), and fingerling (5.4%) potatoes.

Overall, fresh consumer prices were down 13%, with an average price per pound of $0.95.

Smaller pack sizes of fresh potatoes (less than 2 pounds and 2 to 4 pounds) increased in both dollar and volume sales. Five-pound packs, which make up the largest volume share of fresh potato sales, increased (2.0%) but decreased in dollar sales (10.3%).

Ten-pound packs also grew in volume sales (7.9%) but fell in dollar sales by 17.2% compared to the same period last year.

For the reporting period, organic fresh potato sales were $55 million, up 11% and represent 6% of total dollar share. In yearly average volume percent change, fresh organic potatoes increased 11.5% and were 3% of volume percentage share.