From July 2020 – June 2021, potato sales increased in dollars by 3% but declined slightly in volume by 0.3% compared to the previous July-June marketing year, according to a Potatoes USA news release.
The elevated purchasing in 2020 led to a slight decline in overall volume, three categories fell in volume sales from July 2020 – June 2021, based on figures compiled by IRI. However, compared to sales prior to the pandemic buying cycle shows an increase in value and volume.
Consumers bought 577 million more pounds of potatoes from July 2020 – June 2021 than July 2018 – June 2019.
Refrigerated potatoes had the largest increase compared to the same period the previous year of 10.6% increase in dollars and a 5.3% increase in volume. Frozen potatoes kept a stronghold on sales, with dollar and volume sales increasing by 6.3% and 4.6%, respectively, even with an increase in overall average pricing.
Deli-prepared sides increased compared to the same period in 2019 and 2020, but have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The two largest volume driving categories, chips and fresh potatoes, increased in dollar sales but both fell in volume by 1.8%.
The decline in fresh sales was largely impacted by a decline in russet sales, which fell by 3% in dollars and 3.4% in volume. Russets make up 60% of the volume share of fresh sales. The second largest fresh category, red potatoes, also fell in dollars by 3.1% and volume by 1.9%.
However, yellow potatoes increased by 9.7% and volume by 7%. Additionally, petite and medley potatoes increased by double-digits in value and volume. One through four-pound bags of potatoes were the only pack sizes that grew with an 11.5% increase in dollars and a 7.4% increase in volume.
